Solar Eclipse Timer vs SunSketcher

The Solar Eclipse Timer app is marking its 6th eclipse since 2017, which speaks volumes about its reliability and the trust it has built within the eclipse-chasing community. Helping tens of thousands of people enjoy the eclipse more by being reminded to observe all the fascinating eclipse phenomena. Photographers are aided by down-to-the-second precision and countdowns. Since the 2026 path covers some remote areas as well as high-traffic spots in Spain where cell service could be overwhelmed on eclipse day, the app works offline once unlocked. So, geolocation and contact time calculation are all done within the app. This makes it a true "field tool." The app is free to try, and for only a $1.99 in-app purchase to unlock the 2026 eclipse, it's an easy "yes" for anyone who has invested time and travel to be in the path of totality. In-App Video Tutorial: The first button on the Home Screen provides a comprehensive tutorial that explains all the app's functions and how to use them effectively. Audio and Notification Tests: The second button lets users run a "device sound check" to confirm that audio cues, spoken timings, and notifications are audible, which is critical since the app is designed to talk to you. Practice Session Video: The third button launches a 4-minute-45-second video of my actual eclipse-day observation site in 2024, synchronized with the app's real-time announcements. This allows both observers and photographers to practice their routines repeatedly, such as observing for shadow bands, adjusting shutter speeds, and knowing when to remove solar filters. Additionally, dialogue boxes appear as functions are selected, giving you more guidance. On eclipse day, after you get into the path, you can be timing the eclipse in 3 easy steps: 1. Tap to geolocate. 2. Tap to have the app calculate the precise contact times. 3. Tap to load the times into the timer. That's it! You are timing the eclipse. A major convenience feature of the app is the automatic calculation of the clock times needed to capture a perfect set of partial-phase images before and after totality. It is the only app in the world with this function. Collaborating with the late Fred Espenak (Mr. Eclipse) on Photographers Mode before the 2024 eclipse gives the app an incredible pedigree. For pros who need to stay "in the zone" and only care about timing and countdowns from C1 through C4, this mode is a game-changer. You can manually enter coordinates and save the site as a file. This helps compare multiple potential viewing locations. The app includes a hyperlink to the Solar Eclipse Timer website, which gives access to downloadable worksheets to record your partial-phase image times or the chores you want to do in Photographers mode, as well as my Master Stop Chart to count full and partial camera stops. I have observed and photographed six total solar eclipses and one annular eclipse. The concept of an eclipse “talking” timer was developed by me in 2002. I have been helping people time eclipses for almost 25 years. When you use the app, you will appreciate that it was designed by an eclipse chaser. There is also a link to learn more about my comprehensive eclipse observation and photography book, now in its second edition, titled “Eclipse Day.” The app also has a partial eclipse timing mode. This app is ad-free and does not track any user data. ALWAYS USE EYE PROTECTION DURING THE PARTIAL PHASES OF A SOLAR ECLIPSE! OR EVEN WHEN IT IS BRIGHT! NOT DOING SO CAN CAUSE EYE DAMAGE! We are NOT liable for misuse of the app, causing inaccurate timing, or the lack of eye safety precautions during the observation of a solar eclipse. The "glasses off" and "glasses on" statements are guides based on the calculated contact times. The timing can be affected by your phone's clock and the shape of the shadow due to the edge of the lunar limb. Use the Adjust buttons for Lunar Limb variation time adjustments. Glasses should be ON if it's bright!

SunSketcher is a citizen science initiative anyone can use to photograph the April 8th, 2024 Great North American Eclipse. Mass participation will generate an incredible database of images that, when analyzed together, could allow scientists to more accurately model the Sun. "We don't know the shape of the Sun?" you ask. Nope. Well, not exactly. Scientists have a pretty good idea, but it's not nearly as precise as it could be. Our hope is to change that—to measure the Sun's oblateness to an accuracy of a few parts in a million! This app uses your location to determine the time that totality will start and end there. This allows it to automatically take photos chock-full of data of the eclipse while you don't have to worry about the precise details! After totality, you can choose to upload the photos that were taken, along with a few other details about your location at the time of the eclipse and what settings your phone's camera was using, to our data servers for scientific analysis. What is citizen science? Citizen science is a collaborative style of research involving volunteers from the general public. The contributions of these “citizen scientists” help researchers collect and analyze large datasets. Citizenship is NOT a requirement. How will this project contribute to heliophysics research? We are aiming to create the first large-scale database of Baily's Bead images, which will allow the Sun’s shape to be precisely determined to within a few parts per million. Just as the precise shape of the Earth’s ocean surface allows us to determine flows inside the Earth, the SunSketcher database will allow us to study flows in the solar interior. In addition, knowing the precise shape of the Sun will allow physicists to test against and possibly disprove different theories of gravity, including General Relativity! Are there requirements or qualifications needed to participate? Can I participate if I’m not a scientist? You do not need to be a scientist to participate. Our aim is to involve as large and diverse a group of SunSketchers as possible. Why should I participate in SunSketcher? The unique aspect of SunSketcher is that everyone with a phone can make a valuable contribution to a state-of-the-art science project. No special equipment is required, just a smartphone. And, if you register as a SunSketcher on our site, we will add your name to the list of contributors. You might even get mentioned as a Guinness World Record Holder! Where do I have to be on the eclipse day? Anywhere inside the path of totality. Will I be able to watch the eclipse at the same time that I'm using SunSketcher? YES!! In fact, we encourage you to view the eclipse on your own (with appropriate safety precautions at appropriate times) while SunSketcher is running on your phone. The scientific quality of the images obtained will be best if the phone is left untouched throughout the few minutes between the start and end of totality. The app will be finished with the nitty-gritty science stuff just a minute or two after totality ends, at which point you can pick up and begin using your phone again.