Hundreds gather at HR MacMillan Space Centre for solar eclipse

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – In the blink of an eye, it came and went. The partial solar eclipse graced Vancouver’s skies for only a few minutes, causing strange shadows and dimmer skies.

A big crowd gathered at the HR MacMillan Space Centre to watch and cheer.

We went from full sunlight to relative darkness this morning as the moon aligned to block out the sun’s light. It all started at around 9:15 a.m., with the eclipse peaking at 10:21 a.m. Things went back to normal at about 11:30 a.m.

South-facing hills and the grass in front of the HR MacMillan Space Centre were packed with revellers who came to bask in the dimmer-than-normal skies.

Aria, 9, had her birthday at the space centre and wouldn’t have missed an event like this.

“It comes every 99 years, I think. So, I kind of want to see it before then,” she laughed.

Asked what she loves most about space, she said, “That there’s so much of it!”

Aria helped others enjoy the show; sharing glasses was a big part of the event at the space centre today while many waited in line to look through the telescope and get up close and personal with the sun.

Nicholas may have been more prepared than most; he borrowed his father’s welding helmet. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime [event]… and it’s kind of in your backyard. So, it’s very interesting to watch.”

Marilyn calls herself an amateur astronomy buff. “One of the best views I got was that pinhole! It was a piece of paper behind it and it was a nice, crisp image. It was awesome. In the true sense of the word: awesome. The universe is awesome, the sun is awesome, and the eclipse is awesome!”

Staff at the centre say they’ve never seen so many people on the grounds, but they’re happy that they’re taking an interest in space and our universe.

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