Planning for the Next Solar Eclipse

On April 8, 2024, astronomers across North and Central America participated in The Modern Eddington Experiment: an attempt to measure the deflection of starlight due to the sun's gravity using modern telescopes and digital cameras, and thereby test Einstein's general theory of relativity. Planning for this experiment raised fundamental questions about observing procedures that remain unresolved, even after the eclipse. For example, what is the optimal exposure and gain for imaging during a total eclipse? What slewing pattern would maximize useful data during the limited time available during totality?

The timing and location of eclipses makes testing protocols under experimental conditions impossible until eclipse day, and yet such questions are essential to planning and preparations. We present a framework for quantitative assessment of eclipse observation procedures, an analysis of the methods used by one team on April 8, and preliminary steps toward an improved protocol. We also describe eclipse proxies that can be used to test data collection procedures between eclipses — and plan for the next iteration of the Modern Eddington Experiment.