Pedro Ré, president of the Portuguese Association of Amateur Astronomers, said people can use mobile phones to photograph the solar eclipse on Wednesday, August 12. He dismissed public warnings against taking photos with smartphones during the rare astronomical event.
Ré, who is also a full professor at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, explained that people frequently point mobile devices directly at the setting sun without damaging their equipment. However, he warned that attempting a direct photo without a solar filter will fail because mobile cameras are not designed for solar or lunar photography.
To capture an image of the phenomenon, observers must place a solar filter in front of their phone lens, which can include the filter from certified eclipse viewing glasses. Ré noted that placing a certified filter over a mobile lens will result in a small image of the sun, but it will capture the eclipse clearly without requiring expensive telescopes or cameras.
For high-definition images, photographers require digital cameras fitted with dedicated filters to protect against eye damage, or specialized telescopes. Ré, who has observed two total solar eclipses in Romania and Egypt, recommended that spectators record videos of their surroundings to capture the dimming light and crowd reactions.
Filter Techniques and Eye Protection
The period of obscurity during the eclipse will last only 23 seconds. Human eye cells require time to adapt to rapid lighting changes, allowing mobile phones to record the momentary shift in light better than the human eye. Ré emphasized that observers must keep using eye protection throughout the entire event.
Portugal has a long history of observing notable solar eclipses, including past events where the sun was completely obscured from view across the country.
Aviation companies are also preparing for the event. Airline company Iberia scheduled a dedicated flight operating at an altitude of 10 kilometers to provide passengers with a view of the eclipse above the clouds.
Weather predictions indicate clear observation conditions across the country. The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere anticipated clear skies over most of Portugal's territory for the eclipse on August 12.
