A local astronomy charity helped thousands of people safely experience the eclipse after giving away 3,500 solar viewing glasses, following huge demand from people across Buckinghamshire and beyond.
UK Astronomy wanted to make the specialist glasses available to as many people as possible and teamed up with a local pub to provide a collection point.
What began as a simple community initiative quickly grew beyond expectations, with queues forming and people travelling considerable distances to make sure they could safely watch the eclipse.
As demand increased, people collecting glasses were encouraged to make a donation to homelessness charity Social Bite, or buy a drink, helping to raise money for a good cause at the same time.
Image: Matt Goodrum Photography
Ross Hockham from UK Astronomy said:
“We knew there was a lot of excitement around the eclipse, but we never imagined the response would be quite like this.
“Our aim was very simple. We had solar glasses and wanted to make sure as many people as possible had the chance to experience the eclipse safely.
“We needed somewhere accessible where people could collect them, and what happened next completely exceeded our expectations.”
The charity heard a number of stories demonstrating just how difficult some people had found it to get hold of suitable viewing glasses.
One woman had reportedly been preparing to drive all the way to Manchester in the hope of finding a pair, while one mother said her son cried when she told him she had managed to secure glasses because he had believed he was going to miss the eclipse.
Grandparents collected glasses for grandchildren, neighbours picked them up for people unable to travel, and families made special journeys to ensure their children could safely experience the astronomical event.
Ross added:
“Those individual stories are the part that will stay with us.
“Three thousand five hundred glasses is a big number, but behind every pair was someone who wanted to experience something special, often with their children, grandchildren, friends or neighbours.
“One of the things we care about most at UK Astronomy is making astronomy accessible. You shouldn’t need expensive equipment or specialist knowledge to feel that astronomy is for you.”
UK Astronomy hopes the excitement generated by the eclipse will encourage more families and young people across Buckinghamshire to continue exploring astronomy and learning more about the night sky.
For anyone whose interest has been sparked, UK Astronomy will be bringing its inflatable planetarium to Stowe House in Buckinghamshire on Friday 28 August 2026.
The family-friendly event will give visitors the opportunity to step inside the planetarium and explore the night sky, the Solar System and the search for life elsewhere in the Universe.
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