On Saturday 29 March a partial solar eclipse was visible across the UK, with the Moon passing in front of the Sun and obscuring between 28% and 47% of its surface, depending on location.
In Oxford, astrophysicists from the Department of Physics, in collaboration with the Oxford University Space and Astronomy Society, organised a pop-up eclipse viewing event outside the Saïd Business School near the train station. The team set up a solar telescope and distributed eclipse glasses to ensure safe viewing of the Sun. The event provided a chance for passersby to witness the eclipse as they walked to the city centre. Over 500 people took part.
Dr Alex Andersson, who helped run the event, said, 'As it was a partial eclipse, many people weren't aware it was happening and so were delighted to be handed a pair of eclipse-safe glasses or take a peek through our solar telescope and watch the beautiful alignment.' He added, 'It was great talking to a wide range of people—some sharing stories of eclipses they had seen before, while for others, this was their very first eclipse!'
Meanwhile, students participating in the EMPower Oxford residential for children of Black heritage were also taken outside to observe the eclipse, adding to the shared experience across the city.
Reflecting on the event, Alex said, 'We had a great morning out in Oxford, watching and sharing the experience of the eclipse with people.' Professor Chris Lintott, who organised the event, added, 'I enjoyed the surprise of people looking through eclipse glasses who hadn’t realised what was happening above their heads—hopefully, we brightened many people’s weekends.'
