Hundreds of Calgarians got out to enjoy the sun on Monday… well, at least part of it.

Monday’s solar eclipse happened with the blocking of the sun by the passing moon from 11:48 a.m. to 1:38 p.m.  The rare event hit its peak at 12:43 p.m.

The University of Calgary campus welcomed students, faculty, families, and other curiosity seekers to their pop-up observatory in the green space in-between the Taylor Institute and the engineering buildings. The event was put up by team of volunteers from the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory (RAO).  The lines of people stretched across the multiple sidewalks on campus with the RAO eventually running out of viewing glasses.

“It’s just one big party, a star party in the middle of the day,” said Jeroen Stil, associate astronomy professor at the University of Calgary, who brought his own telescope for others to observe the eclipse.

Stil believes that people will be talking about the eclipse for months to come.

“This is such a positive environment that everybody will have their own memories of it,” he said.

Approximately 1,400 people, including members of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada also gathered at the Telus Spark Science Centre for another eclipse viewing event on the other side of the city.

“I think it’s really important to see all the science and how all the science connects to us all,” said Courtney Bellwood, manager of communications at Telus Spark.

“There’s so much to learn about eclipses and we’re still trying to figure them out.”

People came for the chance to learn about the phenomenon and what was happening with the sun and moon, in addition to viewing it through a variety of methods. It was also an opportunity for people to spend time with each other and share the experience with those close to them.

“These are things you will remember forever,” Veronica Gutierrez, former student who came to experience the event with her daughter. Both were in line to view one of the many telescopes and other instruments that allowed visitors to view the eclipse safely.

Partial phenomenon not a problem

Although the gathering only witnessed a partial eclipse, the attendees were still eager to view the eclipse even if it meant waiting in long lines or sharing other people’s safety visors. 

“I’m thankful to see at least 40 per cent,” said Gutierrez.

Many viewers felt positive and appreciative of what they could see and only expressed fascination.

“It looks like a cookie, and I’m interested in eating it because it makes me hungry,” said Ryder Quiadismao, culinary student from SAIT, who witnessed her first eclipse.

The pop-up event served as an opportunity for several students to develop themselves socially and professionally as volunteers by assisting people in the best ways of viewing the eclipse safely including the visible sunspots.

“This makes me practice my communication skills and helps build my self-confidence,” said Sahib Singh Bhangu, first year astrophysics student and RAO volunteer who held the shade so that excess light would not fall on people’s retinas when they looked through one of the devices. He took pleasure in answering questions about the position of the moon and presence of sunspots.

The volunteers comprised astrophysics, math, and engineering students but the students that attended included many other fields.

“It’s one in a lifetime opportunity” said Raewyn Muller, political science student.

“I can’t believe I got to witness it.”

Calgary will experience the next full solar eclipse on August 22, 2044.