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China Total Solar Eclipse Tour 2009
– Longest Total Solar Eclipse of Our Lifetime –
(2009 July 19 – August 6)
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WHAT TO TAKE
WARNING: Do not observe or photograph the Sun out of eclipse or in partial eclipse without safe solar filters. (No filter needed for totally eclipsed Sun). See Eye Safety

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We'll help you decide what to take

Equipment taken by eclipse observers varies depending on travel mode, local circumstances, planned eclipse projects, etc. The following list suggests some common basic items and is not intended to be exhaustive. Adjust the list to suit individual needs. Contact us if you need extra help.

Note: Electric current in China is 220 volts. 50 Hz. Unless your computer or appliance is dual voltage or designed for 220 volts, you will need a converter or transformer. China uses several types of plugs. (See our Electric Current Guide on our More Information Page for more information.)

Adapters for China


Checklist — Adapt for Own Needs
  • Travel documents (mandatory)
  • Passport (mandatory)
  • Eclipse information packet (mandatory)
  • Hat (with ties if possible so it doesn't blow off)
  • Sunglasses (remove during totality)
  • Eyeglass hangers (to hang sunglasses from neck during totality)
  • Sun screen (the eclipse lasts a few hours!)
  • Electric converter and adaptes
  • Solar filter for visual use (for partial phases) [See Note #1]
  • Solar filter for camera (for partial phases) [See Note #2]
  • Binoculars (for viewing prominences)
  • Index cards (for making a pinhole projector to view partial phases)
  • Camera(s)
  • Camera lens: Wide angle or normal (20-50 mm) for sky and landscape
  • Camera lens: Short telephoto (200-300 mm) for eclipse close-ups
  • Film if needed (ISO 400 or faster probably best for eclipse photos if camera hand-held)
  • Spare Batteries for camera
  • Tripod
  • Video camera
  • Fresh videotapes
  • Spare batteries for video camera
  • Small tape recorder (to record notes and surrounding sounds)
  • Audio tapes
  • Spare batteries for tape recorder
  • Thermometer (to see how much temperature changes)
  • Masking tape (to tape camera settings so they don't change)
  • Rubber bands
  • Plastic bags (to hold sand, rocks, etc., for weighting down tripod)
  • String (always handy)
  • Cloth (to shield camera from Sun)
  • White sheet or pillow case (for seeing shadow bands)
  • Log book and pencils
  • Eye patch (optional—some people like to allow one eye to become dark adapted during the partial phases for viewing the corona and eclipse sky during totality)
Notes: Solar Filters: Click for sources
  1. Continental Capers Travel, Inc. will supply each guest with a safe solar filter for viewing the partial phases. This filter is not intended for use with any optical device such as binoculars, telescopes or a camera. It should be held in front of your eyes while viewing the Sun when it is not totally eclipsed. (Recommendation: Don't stare through filter for more than several seconds at a time.)

    Note that no filter is needed to view the Sun when in total eclipse. (If you use a filter during totality, you won't see anything!)

    Warning: Filters made from sunglasses, polaroid filters, smoked or dark glass, typical photographic neutral density filters, CDs, floppy disk media, cellophane and mylar food packaging, undeveloped film, color films, slides or negatives, X-ray films with images, and chromogenic photographic emulsions are not safe! Filters, of any type, placed over an eyepiece are not safe. (The Sun's heat may crack the filter.) Welder's #14 glass may be OK but produces greenish color and poor image quality.

    (See our Eye Safety Page for more info on filters and eye safety.)


  2. Most people interested in photographing the partial phases should have obtained a safe photographic solar filter several months before the eclipse. A filter safe for photographic use may not necessarily be safe for visual use when you look through the camera's viewfinder! Sources of solar filters are on our Eye Safety Page. Also see our More Information Page for more info on eclipse photography.

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Page last updated March 27, 2009
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