<p>It's hard to say because the situation is very similar to this question:</p>
<p><a href="https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/36900/how-much-of-the-suns-disk-must-be-covered-for-a-visible-shadow-to-be-cast/37065#37065">How much of the Sun&#39;s disk must be covered for a visible shadow to be cast?</a></p>
<p>The major problem lies in the <strong>sensitivity of the human eye</strong>, which is able to detect illumination changes sooner or later. Basically, there are people, who might not know about the ongoing solar eclipse until 98% obscuration! This is driven by the aforementioned <strong>human eye sensitivity and the surrounding scene</strong>, which keep seemingly the same level of illuminance for an observer.
I did a few observations both in solar and lunar eclipses and I have basic advice for you: <strong>try to remember the brightness of your scene at the very beginning and watch carefully how it changes against objects illuminated by other light than sunlight</strong>.
If, for instance, you are watching the eclipse outside, but close to the building, which rooms have a light turned on, you can try to detect this <strong>artificial light</strong> on the surface underneath this window (especially when it's placed in the shadow).</p>
<p>However, I assume, that for this purpose you will use a camera. In your device, you can set fixed image parameters and take the snaps at the same time intervals. Afterward, you can see how they vary from each other as the eclipse progresses.</p>
<p>See what I did for the lunar eclipse</p>
<p><div class="youtube-embed"><div>
                <iframe width="640px" height="395px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ds2lh-wcqaI?start=0"></iframe>
            </div></div></p>
<p>The solar eclipse is analogous.</p>
<p>In the detection of the &quot;visual start&quot; of the solar eclipse, some <strong>amateur measurements</strong> can be helpful. You can install some light measurement applications on your phone. Some examples of use and pros &amp; cons you can find here:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mkrgeo-blog.com/light-around-us-and-how-to-measure-it/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.mkrgeo-blog.com/light-around-us-and-how-to-measure-it/</a></p>
<p>The smartphone headed towards any part of the sky should show how the level of light in your area changes as the eclipse progresses. With help of the images mentioned above, you will be able to detect the &quot;beginning of visual eclipse visibility&quot;. Another example (also for lunar eclipse) you can find here:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mkrgeo-blog.com/remote-observation-of-the-total-lunar-eclipse/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.mkrgeo-blog.com/remote-observation-of-the-total-lunar-eclipse/</a></p>
<p>and for a solar eclipse is here:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mkrgeo-blog.com/deep-partial-solar-eclipse-in-scotland/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.mkrgeo-blog.com/deep-partial-solar-eclipse-in-scotland/</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.mkrgeo-blog.com/light-level-measurements-during-total-solar-eclipse/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.mkrgeo-blog.com/light-level-measurements-during-total-solar-eclipse/</a></p>
<p>with visual examples I did myself</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/MxIhb.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/MxIhb.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/PCssH.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/PCssH.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>while also with artificial lights, which are highly recommended during observation such this. I used car dimmed headlights, but streetlamps are undeniably the best, because you can see also their light reflected from the ground, when gets darker.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/wDINY.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/wDINY.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.mkrgeo-blog.com/light-level-measurements-during-total-solar-eclipse/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.mkrgeo-blog.com/light-level-measurements-during-total-solar-eclipse/</a></p>
<p>Bear also in mind the <strong>cloudiness</strong>. The observation above was carried out under the mostly overcast sky. In this case, <strong>clouds reflect the sunlight</strong>, hindering it from further way down to the ground. In turn, it's darker than it could be under clear skies. When the eclipse occurs along with some thunderstorms passing above your observation place, then it's <strong>extremely hard to define, when the eclipse-driven conditions started to be noticeable</strong>, as very thick clouds can reduce the sunlight up to 1000 times. Read more details here:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mkrgeo-blog.com/light-scattering-in-the-earths-atmosphere-part-3-clouds-haze-and-surface/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.mkrgeo-blog.com/light-scattering-in-the-earths-atmosphere-part-3-clouds-haze-and-surface/</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-02T18:26:03.790Z
Transit of Venus, while detectable by (filtered) naked eye, produces no visible effect on the sun's or landscape's brightness. Of course, eyeballs are *remarkably* adaptive.
Wayfaring Stranger
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-03T10:07:07.347Z
The transit of Venus cannot make any difference (even with amateur measurements), because Venus covers about 1% solar disk only. Without any dimmed glasses or filters you can't even spot Venus transmitting on the Sun unless some clouds veil our star. I tried on my own in 2012 and experienced it. I think if we would place Jupiter in place of Venus, then the changes such as this could be visible. remember, that we are talking about a vast antumbra. Unlike umbra, which blocks 100% of the light from the star, antumbra can make up 99% of the shadow or  1% (or infinity) depending on the distance.
Geographos
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-03T17:08:12.333Z
I had filters, and saw it by eye in 2012. I just added the comment as an easily verified limit to visual detection.
Wayfaring Stranger
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-02T11:51:16.097Z
2020-12-02T12:08:14.990Z
2020-12-02T12:08:14.990Z
Geographos
<p>For a human viewer located on Earth, is there an approximate apparent magnitude at which a solar eclipse becomes apparent in the form of a noticeable change in ambient brightness?</p>
<p>Assume normal atmospheric conditions, etc.</p>
<p>Note, I am not interested in the noticeability of the Moon covering the Sun, but whether someone outside would think, &quot;Hey, it looks darker than usual today!&quot;</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-13T15:34:10.850Z
What you are looking for is easy to find for Lunar eclipses: Moon's Apparent Magnitude During Total Lunar Eclipses http://eclipsewise.com/oh/oh-help/LEmagnitude.html   However, I'm not finding similar info for Solar eclipses. From personal experience, 20% is barely noticeable, but things look dimmer at 50%, and the shadows are *wrong*.
Wayfaring Stranger
<solar-eclipse><apparent-magnitude><magnitude><brightness>
When does a solar eclipse become noticeable?
Gimcrack
# When does a solar eclipse become noticeable?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-10-12)

For a human viewer located on Earth, is there an approximate apparent magnitude at which a solar eclipse becomes apparent in the form of a noticeable change in ambient brightness?

Assume normal atmospheric conditions, etc.

Note, I am not interested in the noticeability of the Moon covering the Sun, but whether someone outside would think, "Hey, it looks darker than usual today!"

**Tags:** solar-eclipse, apparent-magnitude, magnitude, brightness

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: What you are looking for is easy to find for Lunar eclipses: Moon's Apparent Magnitude During Total Lunar Eclipses http://eclipsewise.com/oh/oh-help/LEmagnitude.html   However, I'm not finding similar info for Solar eclipses. From personal experience, 20% is barely noticeable, but things look dimmer at 50%, and the shadows are *wrong*.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-12-02. Score: 4

It's hard to say because the situation is very similar to this question:

[How much of the Sun's disk must be covered for a visible shadow to be cast?](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/36900/how-much-of-the-suns-disk-must-be-covered-for-a-visible-shadow-to-be-cast/37065#37065)

The major problem lies in the **sensitivity of the human eye**, which is able to detect illumination changes sooner or later. Basically, there are people, who might not know about the ongoing solar eclipse until 98% obscuration! This is driven by the aforementioned **human eye sensitivity and the surrounding scene**, which keep seemingly the same level of illuminance for an observer.
I did a few observations both in solar and lunar eclipses and I have basic advice for you: **try to remember the brightness of your scene at the very beginning and watch carefully how it changes against objects illuminated by other light than sunlight**.
If, for instance, you are watching the eclipse outside, but close to the building, which rooms have a light turned on, you can try to detect this **artificial light** on the surface underneath this window (especially when it's placed in the shadow).

However, I assume, that for this purpose you will use a camera. In your device, you can set fixed image parameters and take the snaps at the same time intervals. Afterward, you can see how they vary from each other as the eclipse progresses.

See what I did for the lunar eclipse

The solar eclipse is analogous.

In the detection of the "visual start" of the solar eclipse, some **amateur measurements** can be helpful. You can install some light measurement applications on your phone. Some examples of use and pros & cons you can find here:

<http://www.mkrgeo-blog.com/light-around-us-and-how-to-measure-it/>

The smartphone headed towards any part of the sky should show how the level of light in your area changes as the eclipse progresses. With help of the images mentioned above, you will be able to detect the "beginning of visual eclipse visibility". Another example (also for lunar eclipse) you can find here:

<http://www.mkrgeo-blog.com/remote-observation-of-the-total-lunar-eclipse/>

and for a solar eclipse is here:

<http://www.mkrgeo-blog.com/deep-partial-solar-eclipse-in-scotland/>

<http://www.mkrgeo-blog.com/light-level-measurements-during-total-solar-eclipse/>

with visual examples I did myself

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/MxIhb.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/MxIhb.jpg)

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/PCssH.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/PCssH.jpg)

while also with artificial lights, which are highly recommended during observation such this. I used car dimmed headlights, but streetlamps are undeniably the best, because you can see also their light reflected from the ground, when gets darker.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/wDINY.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/wDINY.jpg)

<http://www.mkrgeo-blog.com/light-level-measurements-during-total-solar-eclipse/>

Bear also in mind the **cloudiness**. The observation above was carried out under the mostly overcast sky. In this case, **clouds reflect the sunlight**, hindering it from further way down to the ground. In turn, it's darker than it could be under clear skies. When the eclipse occurs along with some thunderstorms passing above your observation place, then it's **extremely hard to define, when the eclipse-driven conditions started to be noticeable**, as very thick clouds can reduce the sunlight up to 1000 times. Read more details here:

<http://www.mkrgeo-blog.com/light-scattering-in-the-earths-atmosphere-part-3-clouds-haze-and-surface/>

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Transit of Venus, while detectable by (filtered) naked eye, produces no visible effect on the sun's or landscape's brightness. Of course, eyeballs are *remarkably* adaptive.  
> **username_2**: The transit of Venus cannot make any difference (even with amateur measurements), because Venus covers about 1% solar disk only. Without any dimmed glasses or filters you can't even spot Venus transmitting on the Sun unless some clouds veil our star. I tried on my own in 2012 and experienced it. I think if we would place Jupiter in place of Venus, then the changes such as this could be visible. remember, that we are talking about a vast antumbra. Unlike umbra, which blocks 100% of the light from the star, antumbra can make up 99% of the shadow or  1% (or infinity) depending on the distance.  
> **username_1**: I had filters, and saw it by eye in 2012. I just added the comment as an easily verified limit to visual detection.  

---

