Sun seekers: thousands gathered at Kenley airfield for the Croydon Astornomical Society’s viewing of the solar eclipse, one of three venues where special equipment was being used for the rare occasion
Spotted: eclipse pic taken by Rakesh Jaitly from their home near the Shirley Hills
The Croydon Astronomical Society estimates that close to 10,000 people turned out on Wednesday evening across three special gatherings that they organised to view – safely – the solar eclipse.
This week’s phenomenon is reckoned to be a once-in-a-lifetime event, with the next total eclipse not due for another 64 years – on September 23, 2090.
The Croydon Astronomical Society’s volunteers, with their telescopes and cameras, set up at three locations around Croydon: near the RAF Memorrial at Kenley, close to their Observatory and HQ; at the School Common, Warlingham; and at Bingham Recreation ground in Addiscombe.
Large crowds of star gazers were also reported at Duppas Hill Park and in the Shirley Hills, where iC contributor Rakesh Jaitly expertly captured his stunning eclipse images.
Thousands more across Croydon and the rest of southern England were out to witness the eclipse, some using special eclipse glasses, others resorting to more eccentric devices – such as collanders.
The video of the eclipse was taken from the Warlingham viewing point by CAS member John Maltby.
On Sunday September 13 – London Open House day – the CAS observatory at Kenley will be open to the public from 1pm to 4pm, “whatever the weather”, they say.
“If skies are clear we will also do some solar observing.”
Regular Saturday night observatory openings begin at the Observatory from September 3, “whenever the skies are clear”.
- Full details of all activities at the Croydon Astronomical Society can be found on its website: www.croydonastro.org.uk
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It was quite something to see so many people gathering together, without any commercialism or ‘authority’. No entry fee, no sellers flogging anything or blaring music/lights, no overbearing security (as least as far as I saw) – just people coming together on a nice summers’ evening. Shame that’s as rare as eclipses!