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The 1999 one was alright, got a glimpse. Here - just slightly greyer than immediately before and after. The birds twittered on in Kensington Gardens. Street lamps were all on though, which was marginally spooky (don't know whether they'd been set to go off later today, considering - or whether it's a light-sensor thing).
So - life goes on.
Looking forward to Anna re-emerging from totality in cloudless Wales!!!
"...the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."
Lovely sunshine here - early morning mist lifted. The light filtering through the trees S of the house gained an eerie quality as the eclipse passed, just managed to make it out (from the field behind) with pinhole in cardboard box but sun so bright it didn't seem all that dark.
Eclipse very noticeable here in the Pennines - only 85%, and the birdsong continued throughout, but a crescent sun bled a subdued grey light, and the sky itself (not the clouds, the actual sky) had a grey "film" about it. Pleasantly eerie.
Back to full sunshine now - a lovely, clear day, but still very parky; temperature due to reach double figures at noon. Happy Equinox, everyone - and welcome, Spring!
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][I][B]Numquam Satis![/B][/I][/FONT]
Superb eclipse-watching weather here. I observed it biblically - through a glass, darkly. Colleagues who went outside reported stillness, and an absence of birdsong.
"...the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."
Looking forward to Anna re-emerging from totality in cloudless Wales!!!
Emerges, blinking, into the bright sunlight ......
It was very good, such a cool and eerie light. Bound to be loads of pix on BBC website, will look later, supposedly the best one for years and there's a roundup on Stargazing prog this evening. It's when something like this happens it makes you realise that we're really on a planet, somewhere in space!
Also, just checked the local weather station, the temperature dropped from 6° to 5° when it happened. It's 10.6° now, still nary a cloud and I think on target to hit the 13° forecast later by Met Office, everyone walking around minus coats!
Provided to YouTube by Warner ClassicsEnter Spring H174 (1989 Remastered Version) · Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra · Sir Charles GrovesBridge: The Se...
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][I][B]Numquam Satis![/B][/I][/FONT]
I observed it biblically - through a glass, darkly.
The Macallen?
"...the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."
the temperature dropped from 6° to 5° when it happened
Yes the temperature was almost the most noticeable part about the whole thing - cycling around at 9.20 it was dank and cold and my hands were like blocks of ice despite the robust cycling gloves, as on the nastiest winter day.
Cycling out from home 45 minutes later, not only was it very markedly lighter but there was hardly any need for gloves.
"...the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."
We asked for your disappointing eclipse pictures. You did not disappoint. From Mull to Southampton, here is a selection of the most middling
UPDATE:
The event triggered one of the biggest power surges of the decade as up to 10 million viewers headed indoors and tuned in to the phenomenon on Stargazing Live on BBC1.
The 2GW surge was equivalent to 3.2million Brits turning on TVs and kettles at the same time, energy use data showed, double the amount seen following the Andy Murray Wimbledon final in 2013.
National Grid spokeswoman Gilly West said: “Rather than demand pick up after the event as expected, it picked up during the event by 2GW - a significant amount - as people stayed indoors due to the weather.
“It was the ‘cup of tea’ effect as people turned on TVs, kettles, heating and lights. We coped fine.”
"...the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."
The local BBC1 lunchtime news showed a sea of upturned faces in Greenwich Park with protective glasses; SE London is indeed noted for its indomitable spirit of optimism.
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