Crowds reflect on watching 'incredible' eclipse

1 hour ago

Tanya GuptaSouth East

News image — A sequence image captured the Moon moving across the Sun at Caterham in Surrey

BBC Weather Watchers / Gunter A person stands beside a camera on a tripod in a harvested field in Caterham, Surrey, during sunset. A sequence of the eclipse is shown across the sky, tracking the Sun as the Moon moves across it from high above the horizon to near sunset. Trees line the horizon beneath an orange sky. — A sequence image captured the Moon moving across the Sun at Caterham in Surrey

Eclipse watchers gathered on beaches, hilltops and parks to watch the Moon pass in front of the Sun on Wednesday, describing the rare event as "incredible".

People across Kent, Surrey and Sussex brought out solar glasses, improvised pinhole cameras and kitchen colanders to watch the celestial event. Many turned the occasion into a picnic or party in the sun as temperatures climbed into the 30s.

Between 18:20 and 20:10 BST, the Moon caused a near-total eclipse of the Sun, giving people across the UK their best chance to witness the phenomenon since 1999.

Cars queued on coastal roads as eclipse enthusiasts gathered on beaches from Whitstable to Goring-by-Sea.

Spectators also flocked to the South Downs, and people turned up to witness the moment at beauty spots from Tunbridge Wells Common in Kent to Ockham Common in Surrey.

BBC Weather Watchers / SusySunshine

BBC Weather Watchers / Tony_L

The eclipse created dramatic sunset views across Surrey

The partially eclipsed Sun was photographed from Worthing in West Sussex

Rhiannon Quinche, from Tunbridge Wells, said it was "amazing" and the "strangest thing ever".

She said: "It was like everything kind of went dark and it's just like this really eerie light, and even the birds don't know what's happening, it's so amazing, this little line of sun, I've not seen anything like it before."

BBC / Phil Harrison Rhiannon Quinche stands outdoors at Tunbridge Wells Common in Kent wearing eclipse glasses. Trees, dry grass and large rocks can be seen behind her in the evening sunlight. — Rhiannon Quinche described the eclipse as "the strangest thing ever"

In Eastbourne, Michael Simpson watched the eclipse with his daughter Chloe, and his sister, Anne.

He was in Nigeria when the 1999 solar eclipse happened, but it was the rainy season and there wasn't much to see, although he did notice the birds "took off".

Watching this year's eclipse from the UK, he said it was "amazing".

He said you could feel the temperature dropping and the light getting dimmer, before what looked like a crescent moon appeared, except it was a "crescent sun".

BBC / Hanna Neter From left to right, Chloe Simpson, Anne Simpson and Mike Simpson stand on the Eastbourne Downs wearing eclipse glasses. Chloe Simpson holds a homemade eclipse viewer covered in silver foil, while Mike Simpson holds a pair of eclipse-viewing filters. Other spectators can be seen in the background watching the event. — Chloe, Anne and Mike Simpson used eclipse glasses and homemade viewing equipment

On top of the South Downs, Stephen Whiles, Glenda Whiles, David Hearn and Andrea Illingworth were watching the event together after walking up from their homes.

Glenda said: "It's just such a special day and we didn't really want to miss it. We live in the perfect spot. We just walked up the hill. Our back gate is just down there. We thought we'd celebrate with a glass of bubbly."

BBC / Hanna Neter From left to right, Stephen Whiles, Glenda Whiles, David Hearn and Andrea Illingworth stand on the Eastbourne Downs during the eclipse. David Hearn holds a metal colander in front of a sheet of white paper to demonstrate a homemade viewing method, while Glenda Whiles holds a glass of sparkling wine. The group are gathered on open downland beneath a clear evening sky. — Friends watched the eclipse from the Eastbourne Downs with a glass of bubbly

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