Night Sky Photography -- 04-08-2024 -- The Visible Planets With Partial Solar Eclipse

It was a big day here in North America this week with the April 8th Total Solar Eclipse arriving this afternoon, appearing overhead in a line across the continent from Mexico to Canada.

Map showing the line of totality during the April 8, 2024 Solar Eclipse.
The Partial Solar Eclipse was visible throughout North America from Canada to Panama.

During a Solar Eclipse, the Moon crosses the path of the Sun casting its shadow on the surface of
the Earth.

During a Total Solar Eclipse, the deepest part of the Moon's shadow (the umbra) covers the narrow area of totality, while the lighter part of the Moon's shadow (the penumbra) covers the wider area where only a Partial Solar Eclipse can be seen.

Here in upstate South Carolina, those of us with the proper eye protection were only able to see about 75% of the totality, with the Moon's penumbra shadow casting down making the planets in our Solar System and some of the brightest stars visible.

On Monday, April 8th, I was able to capture one really beautiful image of all the visible planets of our Solar System between the Partial Solar Eclipse at its peak. It was a unique opportunity to see all of these planets in the daytime.

At present Venus is far too close to the Sun to be visible for the next few months, and Saturn and Mars are expected to pass each other on the mornings of Tuesday the 9th and Wednesday the 10th, but they are so low on the horizon before sunrise that its hard to catch them unless you live in an elevated place before the Sun blocks them out. Mercury can be seen low on the horizon just after sunset, but again you see a high place with no obstructions to really see it.