About EclipseDroid USB
EclipseDroid is the ultimate companion for each engaged solar eclipse observer and all people, who are interested in solar eclipses Your Guide for obserserving the Black Sun. The app calculates exact data for any solar eclipse at any location, total as well as annular, hybrid or partial eclipses as well as ancient or future ones. Relax and watch the eclipse and not your cameras, EclipseDroid will work for you!
New in version 6: Text to speech (TTS) supported,
- Network commands for WiFi network based cameras (Tested for Penatx FluCard), see http://www.strickling.net/eclipsedroid.htm#actions for details.
Since Version 5 includes an EFlight mode for eclipse observation from an aircraft. Now all timing tasks will run in a service which prevent from being terminated in background. Minor improvements for newer Canon cameras.
EclipseDroid is especially designed to support engaged solar eclipse observers in their observations. It will show timetables and countdowns for the contact times, make acoustic announcements of the contacts or other user defined events. It will launch other apps, show text announcements and trigger internal or external cameras connected by USB (USB host capability and USB OTG cable required) or optical cable . All these events can be defined and customized in a script by the user. The timings of the events depend on the contact times which are calculated with high precision from the actual device's position or a custom location.
For USB camera control check compatibility with EclipseDroid Free version prior to download paid version!
To prepare your eclipse observation, select a desired location from the map, from a list or input free coordinates. To rehearse and check your observation program, simply run EclipseDroid in eclipse simulation mode. When selecting and checking your observation site, avoid unpleasant surprises like buildings or trees blocking your eclipse view! Just call the AR (Augmented reality) screen of EclipseDroid to see an overlay of the Sun's position at eclipse time with an actual camera image.
EclipseDroid has several screens and layouts to show the precise contact times for your location. These are the beginning and end of the eclipse (C1 and C4), the beginning and end of the total or annual phase (C2 and C3), the time of mid eclipse and the current percentage of coverage of the solar disk. You have the choice of two layouts: a smart layout showing the local circumstances and an animation of the eclipse in a condensed form or the classic layout with countdowns for all contacts, an events list with the next upcoming events and the actual eclipse view, if the eclipse is running.
In the 'eclipse details' screen you get full information about the local and global circumstances and tables of magnitude times for photographers. Pressing 'Menu' will add the eclipse to your favorite personal calendar.
Required Permissions:
- Hardware controls: Camera. Required for AR.
May cause compatibility refusal for devices without front camera. Try installation from my website http://www.strickling.net/eclipsedroid.htm!
- Exact location and network location: For site-specific calculations of the contact times.
- Internet Access: Online selection and network based localization of an observation site, database download.
- SD card access: Storing settings, event lists, logs, locations and databases. Cache for Google Maps for offline use.
- System tools: Keep screen on if connected to external power
- Your Account - Read Google service configuration: Needed for the Google maps module
Lunar eclipses are not supported, nor does the app contain pretty pictures of huge graphics!
Bugs or problems found? Please send an error report for bug fixing or send an email instead of giving bad ratings!
Translators welcome! If you like this app and prefer it in your language, contact me! Translation is rather easy.
by U####:
EclipseDroid was the perfect tool for the Great Eclipse this past August! The app's scripting and tethering capabilities enabled me to take a more precise and thorough sequence of photos than I would have been able to do manually, allowing me to sit back and enjoy my first total solar eclipse rather than fiddling with camera controls. EclipseDroid pinpointed my location, and the eclipse timing was spot on. My photos turned out wonderfully! // While testing EclipseDroid I discovered that its scripting syntax was limited to 1 photo every 1 second (per device). Even so, my camera would only actually take a photo every *2* seconds (despite being able to manually take rapid sequences of photos). This may have been due to having an older camera (~2010) with a slow tethering interface. I revised my EclipseDroid script accordingly, scripting a photo every 2 seconds. I will definitely be using EclipseDroid again in 2024! // EclipseDroid USB 7.2.3 // Samsung Galaxy Note 4 // Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) // Nikon D90 // Tethering hardware: USB OTG (On The Go) adapter + mini USB cable // Tripod: Yes // Equatorial mount with motor drive: No // Eclipse 2017 viewing location: Albany, OR