On Friday 20th March, the UK was treated to a rare near-total solar eclipse, with BTEC Level 2 and 3 science students from City of Westminster College helping tutors to organise an event for all students and staff of the college. Gathering in front of the building in Paddington Green, students were keen to share their knowledge of solar eclipses and show the crowd the best apps available to watch the event taking place due to the cloudy weather.
“A total solar eclipse takes place when the Moon completely blocks the sun – in the UK we were still able to still see a small section of the sun as the Moon moved across in front of it,” said Dr Hasanat Husain, a CWC Vocational Science Lecturer. “London wasn’t the best place to watch it as the weather hampered our observing opportunities, but those further West and North had fantastic views. The students prepared some fantastic posters and leaflets, at very short notice, which were placed around the college and they also created pin-hole cameras which we took out onto Paddington Green with us. Although we were unable to see the eclipse clearly, we were able to feel the effects of it, including it becoming darker and a drop in temperature and the wind. The students used apps on their smartphones or tablets in order to see what was taking place behind the cloud cover.”
BTEC Level 2 Applied Science student Gabriela Ordonez said, “Although we weren’t able to watch and see the solar eclipse happen right in front of our eyes, we still felt it happen because the temperature dropped and it got colder as we stood outside and it also got a bit darker as it was happening. I am very thankful that I was part of the event because although we didn’t get to see the eclipse, I learnt that we should not take the sun for granted. Without the sun we would not have light and we would also be cold because there would be no heat coming from the sun. I think it was a successful event and we had a very good turn out.”
The next total solar eclipse will be visible in the UK on August 12th 2026.