Hundreds enjoy eclipse atmosphere despite clouds

2 hours ago

Tom MacDougallNorth East and Cumbria

News image — Crowds gathered across the region to watch the partial solar eclipse

PA Media A group of older people look towards the sun in what appears to be mild amazement while clutching pairs of special glasses designed to protect their eyes from damage. The rims are made from card, with circular spectacles in the middle. — Crowds gathered across the region to watch the partial solar eclipse

People gathered across the North East and Cumbria to watch the "once-in-a-lifetime" partial solar eclipse.

An eclipse happens when the Sun, Moon and Earth are in alignment. The Moon casts a shadow on the Earth as it passes between the two, completely or partially blocking out the Sun.

For those on the ground, the significance of this astronomical event could be easy to overlook unless you were watching it through a cereal box - and those expecting a total black-out might have been disappointed.

But spectators attending events across the region said it was "nice to be with a group of people and feel the atmosphere".

It was the biggest coverage since the total eclipse in 1999, with the moon covering 90-96% of the sun.

After this week's event, the UK will not see another of its kind until 2050, while the next total eclipse is not due until 2090.

PA Media Two young people are looking into modified cereal boxes to watch the solar eclipse. Sunlight is filtered through a pinprick into the dark box, so the path of the moon across the sun can be seen. One box is Tesco branded Corn Flakes and the other is Shredded Wheat. — In Tynemouth, two young people use cereal box contraptions to witness the event without damaging their eyes

At St Bees Beach in Cumbria, a watch party was hosted by St Bees Priory Church, where the Reverend Emma Holroyd said she "can't believe how many people we've got".

She said the eclipse showed how "when things are dark around you, the light will come again".

Spectator Mark, who has lived in Whitehaven all his life and attended with his son Alfie, called it "phenomenal".

"I've never seen it so busy, the cars are piling in, and the energy feels special," he said.

"I was on London Bridge for 1999 for that eclipse - but this is more special."

Ed Hanson/BBC The sun sets on St Bees Beach, where groups of people are gathered en masse across the grassy dunes or the wet beach itself. — Crowds gathered at St Bees Beach in Cumbria to catch the partial solar eclipse

Near Stockton, hundreds of people gathered outside Wynyard Planetarium and Observatory to witness the event, which was also being projected on to screens.

The planetarium's Simon Gotch said the turnout was "absolutely unbelievable", with about 400 people arriving to watch the phenomenon despite the "little bit of cloud".

They ran out of eclipse glasses so had to ask people to share, he said.

In Gateshead, more than 2,000 people gathered at The Glasshouse.

One of them said it was "pretty impressive" even if it was a "little overcast", and another said it was "really beautiful, an actual ritual that people are here for and enjoying".

Follow BBC North East on X and Facebook and BBC Cumbria on X and Facebook and both on Nextdoor and Instagram.