Crowds reflect on watching 'incredible' eclipse
People headed to beaches, parks and hills in their droves to catch the rare event.
Eclipse observers convened across Kent, Surrey, and Sussex to witness the Moon gradually covering the Sun on Wednesday, describing the extraordinary event as "incredible." People of all ages brought along solar glasses, makeshift pinhole cameras, and even colanders to safely observe the celestial spectacle. Many transformed the moment into a sun-soaked picnic or party, as temperatures soared into the 30s Celsius.
Between 18:20 and 20:10 BST, the Moon performed a near-total eclipse of the Sun, providing the UK's best opportunity to witness the phenomenon since 1999. Long queues formed on coastal roads as eclipse enthusiasts flocked to beaches from Whitstable to Goring-by-Sea. Spectators also gathered at the South Downs and various parklands, including Tunbridge Wells Common in Kent and Ockham Common in Surrey.
Rhiannon Quinche, a resident of Tunbridge Wells, expressed her amazement, stating that the experience felt like "everything kind of went dark, and it's just like this eerie light." She further remarked, "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."
Michael Simpson and his family in Eastbourne recounted their own awe, having witnessed the 1999 solar eclipse while in Nigeria. This time, the event was more memorable, with the temperature dropping and the light growing dimmer before a crescent sun appeared. On top of the South Downs, a group of friends watched the eclipse together after an uphill walk.
Glenda Whiles remarked, "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."
Written by urgent.news from BBC Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
