A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, blocking the Sun’s light partially or completely. Many people want to capture this spectacular sight with their smartphone camera. You can photograph the eclipse with your phone and safely view the resulting image on the screen, but this requires specific protective measures. Pointing your phone’s camera directly at the sun without proper equipment risks irreversible damage to the device’s internal components and poses a threat to your vision.
The Critical Difference Between Screen Viewing and Direct Viewing
Viewing the eclipse on your phone’s screen is safe for your eyes because the screen emits a digital representation, not raw, concentrated sunlight. However, the act of aiming your phone toward the sun carries a substantial risk to your eyesight.
When framing the shot, your eye might glance past the edge of the device and directly encounter the unfiltered sun. This brief, unprotected exposure to solar radiation causes permanent damage to the retina, known as solar retinopathy. Since the retina lacks pain receptors, this injury can occur without any immediate sensation of pain.
The danger is compounded because the sun is less bright during the partial eclipse phases, overriding your natural aversion to look away. The phone’s lens concentrates the sunlight onto the camera sensor. If you look near the phone’s edge while aiming, the intensity of the light—including invisible UV and IR radiation—can cause thermal damage to the macula, which is responsible for sharp, central vision.
Protecting the Camera Sensor From Solar Damage
The main risk to your smartphone hardware comes from the focused energy directed at the image sensor. Modern smartphones use sensitive components, such as CMOS or CCD sensors, to capture light. The camera lens acts like a magnifying glass, concentrating the sun’s intense light and heat onto this small electronic chip.
Unfiltered, prolonged exposure to the sun can overwhelm the sensor, especially during the partial eclipse phases. This concentrated energy quickly causes permanent physical damage, manifesting as “burned-in” or dead pixels that appear as bright spots in the camera’s image. This damage is a form of thermal trauma to the sensitive micro-electronics of the sensor array.
Holding the phone steady to film a video or take multiple photos for an extended period significantly increases the risk. The camera is capturing an energy source far more intense than its components are built to handle. To prevent this irreversible hardware damage, the light must be dramatically reduced before it reaches the lens assembly.
Safe Techniques for Capturing the Eclipse
To safely capture the solar eclipse, the most important step is placing a certified solar filter directly over the phone’s camera lens. This filter must meet the international safety standard ISO 12312-2:2015, which ensures it reduces both visible light and harmful invisible UV and IR radiation to safe levels. You can purchase specialized smartphone solar filters or hold a pair of ISO-certified eclipse glasses over the camera’s lens.
The filter must remain securely in place over the lens for the entire duration of the partial eclipse phases. Using a tripod can help stabilize the phone and ensure the filter stays aligned with the lens. If you are within the path of totality, you can temporarily remove the filter only during the brief moments when the sun is completely covered by the moon. It must be replaced immediately once the bright light of the sun’s edge reappears.
For those without a dedicated filter, another safe method is to use a simple pinhole projector to view the eclipsed sun’s image indirectly. This allows you to safely observe the crescent shape of the sun projected onto a surface. If you plan to use a more powerful lens, such as a telescope or binoculars, a certified solar filter must be placed over the front of the optics to protect both the equipment and the observer’s eyes.