Experience the Eclipse
The Lakehouse, Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York (Map)
Event details
Join us at the University of York on Wednesday 12 August for a special evening as we watch a partial solar eclipse.
A partial solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, covering part of the Sun’s disc. From York, this will be a particularly striking eclipse: at maximum, the Moon will cover about 92% of the Sun’s diameter. With safe solar viewing equipment, visitors should see the Sun transformed into a bright crescent low in the evening sky with significantly darkened skies.
The evening begins with a short talk on eclipses by astrophysicist Dr Emily Brunsden from 6.15pm to 6.45pm, followed by safe eclipse viewing from 6.45pm to 7.30pm using specialist solar telescopes and solar glasses. Experts will be on hand to guide the viewing, explain what is happening, and answer questions. The eclipse happens close to sunset when the Sun is just 12° above the horizon.
This is one of the best chances to see a major solar eclipse from York for many decades. Viewing the eclipse is weather dependent. In the event of poor weather, after the talk we will link in to a live feed and enjoy remote coverage of the event.
**Please note it is not safe to look directly at the Sun unless through equipment specifically designed for solar observing. Binoculars, sunglasses, or welding glass are not designed for this purpose and should not be used.**
About the speaker
Dr Emily Brunsden is an astrophysicist and Director of Astrocampus, the University of York’s observatory. Her research focuses on asteroseismology—the 'music of the stars'—using stellar vibrations to uncover the hidden structure and dynamics within stars. She’s passionate about making astronomy accessible, from giving night-sky tours, to co-hosting the Syzygy podcast, to sharing the latest cosmic discoveries. Having worked at observatories around the world, she is dedicated to sparking curiosity and bringing the universe to life.
Venue details
Wheelchair accessible
Hearing loop