Capturing the 2024 total solar eclipse was a major undertaking for Nicolas Lefaudeux, who traveled to Illinois for a clear view. Despite some thin clouds, the resulting photos are of excellent quality. The huge volume of data collected will take a long time to process. This project was made possible with help from several people and organizations, including Gordon Falconer, João Lucreddi, Jean-Marc Lecleire, Robert Yen, Nikon France, and Nabila Meknoun.
High-Resolution HDR Images of the Solar Corona
Lefaudeux used a high-resolution setup with a 190mm Maksutov-Newton Telescope and a Nikon Z8 camera. The resulting high-dynamic-range (HDR) image of the solar corona has an unprecedented level of detail and a better signal-to-noise ratio than any previous eclipse image. This was achieved thanks to the four-minute duration of totality, the large telescope, and the fast camera. Over 1,000 images were taken, totaling more than 46 billion pixels—10 times more than his previous eclipse shoots.
Processing this massive amount of data required him to simplify and rewrite his processing algorithms. The final image reveals intricate coronal structures like pink prominences, plasma loops, streamers, plumes, and dark blobs. The image also captures the red sungrazer comet SOHO 5008 as it plunged toward the Sun.
Technical Details
- Camera: Nikon Z8, ISO 64.
- Telescope: Skywatcher Maksutov-Newton, 190mm diameter, 930mm focal length.
- Second Camera Setup: Nikkor 200mm f/2 lens with a Nikon Z6ii. This setup was used to gather more photons and capture low-contrast structures and stars down to magnitude 12.5.
Family Portrait of the Solar System
Lefaudeux also created a panoramic image of the eclipse using a Nikon Z6ii with a Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.2 lens. This panorama, made from four tiles and over 500 images, shows the Sun eclipsed by the Moon, surrounded by all the planets, Comet Pons-Brooks, Comet SOHO 5008, and the Pleiades star cluster. It captured the solar corona up to about 30 solar radii and stars down to a magnitude of 9.5.
The Elusive Solar Mesosphere
Lefaudeux believes he captured a very thin and rarely imaged layer of the Sun’s atmosphere, the solar mesosphere. This layer, located between the photosphere and the chromosphere, is usually seen only through flash spectrum. It appeared as a bright, blue layer and was captured with an extremely short exposure of 1/32000s, almost saturating the sensor.
Motions and Waves in the Solar Corona
The long duration of the eclipse allowed for the capture of moving features in the corona, such as changing streamers, jets, and dark blobs. Most notably, Lefaudeux captured coronal waves for the first time. By using a “running difference” processing technique, he was able to remove static features and reveal the waves, which are radiating from the Sun. He has estimated their period, spatial period, and phase velocity, but is seeking help from solar physicists to identify the exact nature of these waves.
The Appearance of the Eclipse to the Naked Eye
The article also includes simulations of how the eclipse appeared through a 65mm spotting scope and Pentax 4×20 binoculars. The binoculars, in particular, provided an excellent, wide-field view with more detail and brilliance than the naked eye. He highly recommends them for eclipse viewing.
Sungrazer Comet SOHO-5008
Lefaudeux also captured the sungrazer comet SOHO-5008. The comet’s color, which is prominent in the red channel, suggests a strong sodium emission as it was disintegrating. This image was created by combining data from both the 200mm and the high-resolution telescope setups.
