With the highly anticipated solar eclipse just around the corner on April 8th, Trish Cerulli, a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador and president of the Blue Ridge Astronomy Club, has shared some valuable tips on how to safely view and capture the celestial event using your smartphone.

According to Cerulli, it is crucial to ensure that you have the proper equipment for solar viewing. This includes using ISO compliant solar viewing glasses or filters, which can be found online or obtained at various events such as the CVCC solar eclipse viewing on April 8th.

To safely use your smartphone, it is recommended to secure solar glasses or a solar filter over the top of your phone camera. Cerulli emphasizes the importance of making sure that the glasses or filter cover the entire camera lens securely. It is also best practice to use tape to secure the filter onto your phone.

Cerulli has personally tested this method and found success when using complaint solar viewing glasses to observe a partial eclipse in October. She advises smartphone users to avoid pointing their phones directly at the sun without the proper filter. The intense light from the sun can potentially damage the camera optics inside the phone.

In addition to solar glasses and filters, there are other products available for smartphone photography during the eclipse. Clip-on filters designed for smartphone cameras can enhance image quality, while tripods can aid in capturing steady pictures. For more creative shots, Cerulli suggests using colladers to capture interesting eclipse-related patterns on the ground.

Cerulli also highlights the exciting opportunities this eclipse presents for solar observing enthusiasts. As we are currently in the middle of an active solar cycle, viewers may be able to witness additional activity on the sun's surface.

As the solar eclipse approaches, remember to prioritize safety while capturing this rare cosmic event. Follow the advice of experts like Trish Cerulli to ensure a memorable and safe viewing experience using your smartphone.

The solar eclipse on April 8th promises to be an awe-inspiring spectacle, and with the right precautions, smartphone users can now join in the excitement without compromising their safety.