Solar Eclipse Event

Eclipse Fever: Colanders at the Ready

There are few things quite like a solar eclipse for turning perfectly sensible people into a field full of excited sky-watchers. On 12 August, that was exactly what happened at Win Green, where an unusually busy car park gave away the fact that something rather special was happening overhead.

Colin was there to see it unfold, describing the event as “a great” one, with a surprisingly varied crowd gathered to watch. Telescopes were set up, eclipse glasses were passed around and, in a triumph of practical ingenuity, even colanders and cornflake boxes were pressed into service.

It sounds wonderfully chaotic, but there was a real sense of community to it. People were sharing equipment, helping each other and simply enjoying the spectacle together. For an event that happens on a cosmic scale, it seems fitting that it also brought a little community spirit down to Earth.

The atmosphere was clearly part of the experience. Colin noted just how busy the site became, with a real mix of interested people arriving to witness the eclipse near maximum (South West was only going to be 93% of maximum).

The eclipse wasn't the only celestial show in town. That same evening, CCAC members also went out observing the Perseids, counting around 30–35 meteors over roughly two hours, including some particularly bright specimens with impressive tails.

Sometimes astronomy is about seeing something extraordinary. If it can be shared with others, whether our club, or a host of members of the public, all the better.