Why You Shouldn’t Point Your Smartphone Camera Directly at the Sun During Today's Solar Eclipse, According to NASA

And what to do instead.

It’s eclipse day, and while you may want to take photos of the rare phenomenon, NASA warns it could actually damage your smartphone camera.

Ahead of the eclipse happening on Monday, the agency warned on X that the bright sun could damage the phone sensor, just like any other camera when pointed directly at the sun

“This is especially true if you’re using any sort of magnifying lens attachment on the phone. You would need to utilize the proper filters just like on any other camera,” NASA wrote in its post. “The best practice would be to hold a pair of eclipse glasses in front of your phone’s lenses when photographing the Sun at any point other than totality.”

The total solar eclipse, which has been dubbed the Great American Eclipse, is expected to cross the country from Texas and go all the way to Maine, starting near Eagle Pass, Texas, at about 1:30 p.m. CT. The eclipse is an especially big deal since the next total solar eclipse won't be visible from the contiguous U.S. until 2044, according to NASA.

For those who do want to capture the phenomenon on film (or camera roll), NASA does have a few tips to save your lens.

First, use a filter. A filter for your camera is just as important as wearing good solar eclipse glasses to protect your eyes — and NASA said you can even hold those same glasses up to the camera to capture photos. But if you’re in the path of totality, remember to remove the filter when there is 100 percent coverage “so you can see the Sun’s outer atmosphere – the corona.”

Second, remember there’s more to photographing a solar eclipse than the actual sun.

“The real pictures are going to be of the people around you pointing, gawking, and watching it,” NASA photographer Bill Ingalls said in a statement. “Those are going to be some great moments to capture to show the emotion of the whole thing.”

Lastly, remember any camera can be a good camera, but there are certain pieces of equipment that can help like a tripod to steady your shots (especially in low lighting).

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