A Partial Solar Eclipse

So on the morning of 20th March 2015 a partial Solar eclipse passed across the United Kingdom and I decided I wanted to see it. I had missed the last one in 1999 due to cloud cover but this time I was determined, especially as it was going to be 93% covered in East Central Scotland.

The weather forecast was terrible to be honest but via searching the internet weather reports I identified Arbroath as a potential candidate site for clear skies and headed there where I met a fellow Astronomer called Iain from the Central Scotland Observer's Group. Unfortunately upon arrival we found clouds, but a quick look to the West made us realise that the city of Dundee might be a better place and so we hopped back in our cars and headed there.

This proved to be a great idea as we arrived in Dundee to find clear skies although we had missed the first 15 minutes of the event as my first photo can attest to.

So as we stood photographing the sun and adjusting our tripods we were soon greeted by the many locals of Dundee who wished to have look through our collection of Eclipse glasses. We were of course happy to oblige and Iain took a picture of me with one pleasant chap in a motability scooter.

Anyway, the prime point in the eclipse was when the sun was at its most covered which was around 9.35am with the sun appearing to look like a big smile.

Of course viewing the sun through glasses and cameras wasn't our only bit of fun! Iain had brought his binoculars and using a piece of card we managed to get a nice projection image to show various people who passed by.

Time passed and before we knew it the Moon was slowly moving completely away from the sun's disc but I managed to get a picture of the last moments of the eclipse.

Overall, it was a very enjoyable morning spent appreciating a wonderful sight. Anyway, I ended up making a timelapse movie of the images I took which is viewable below.