Observation by Alex Pratt: 2026 Partial solar eclipse from Leeds
Uploaded by
Alex Pratt
Observer
Alex Pratt
Observed
2026 Aug 12 - 18:03
Uploaded
2026 Aug 13 - 17:12
Objects
The Sun
Eclipse
The Earth
Equipment
- Astro Media solar projector
- Smartphone
Exposure
1/100 s - ISO 50
Location
Leeds, West Yorkshire (Bortle 7)
Target name
2026 Partial solar eclipse from Leeds
Title
2026 Partial solar eclipse from Leeds
About this image
I set up a range of simple equipment on my front lawn - colander, holey biscuits, cereal box viewers, vacuum cleaner box viewer, my Astro Media solar projector and 10x50 binocular projection. I was joined by my neighbours and I handed out some eclipse glasses (and biscuits). My cousin helped to explain the event and to advise everyone.
The youngsters were particularly fascinated by my Astro Media projector and it distracted them from looking up at the Sun:
https://astromedia.de/The-Solar-Projector
keenly following the partial eclipse from first to last contact.
It invoked memories of Leslie Peltier's tale of joining the queue in the dark as his father showed visitors his son's latest comet discovery, I had to patiently wait my turn to monitor eclipse progress in my projector... :-)
We could just discern up to four sunspot active areas. Impressive for a 'fun' item of cardboard, lens and mirrors.
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Comments
Wonderful, well done you for your outreach activities and really happy that the clouds stayed away on the Big E-day.
Thanks Martina,
An ad hoc event but I'll look at registering as a STEM ambasador.
The youngsters asked really good questions like - "Is the foil on the glasses the same as on the cereal box viewers?"
"Will it do it again tomorrow?"
They climbed on the trees outside my house "to make the Sun crescents dance". I'll post a video of a tree branch later.
They asked why I took pics of my neighbour's garden? I used fixed DSLR settings and showed them a series of pics as the hydrangeas got darker and darker, then lighter again. They thought that was "cool". :-)
I'll post a montage or GIF in a day or so.
Everyone commented on the drop in light level, eerie lighting and the cooler temp.
Great work, Alex. Catch 'em young.
Alan
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