Eclipse enthusiasts flock to UWI for rare celestial spectacle
Published:Tuesday | April 9, 2024 | 12:11 AMAinsworth Morris/Staff Reporter
More than 100 enthusiasts gathered at the Department of Physics at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, on Monday for an unusual post-lunchtime viewing party for a partial solar eclipse.
The rare celestial total solar eclipse made its first landfall in Mazatlán, Mexico, before it was seen in other sections of North America, including the United States, plunging the Earth into darkness for some mere minutes.
The eager watchers gathered at The UWI with two telescopes and solar filter glasses to view the 16 to 17 per cent partiality seen from Jamaica.
Amid the unexpected high energy and interest, Dominique Campbell, research assistant and member of the Astronomical Club of Jamaica, was elated that there was still a major interest in science in the country, which she said was evidenced by the turnout.
“Since 1 p.m., we got about three people, and then the numbers just came in droves. Everybody heard about it. We had a good turnout from UWI, from UWI staff as well as students. We had members of the Students Astronomy Club here. We had alumni come in, ... so we had a very, very good turnout,” Campbell told The Gleaner.
GREAT TURNOUT
She said Monday’s turnout at the event organised by the Department of Physics was better than a previous eclipse viewing party it staged in 2017, when Jamaicans could see 60 per cent partiality.
“People got to see the sunspots on the sun and they got to see the eclipse at the same time, so this was a wonderful experience for me,” she said.
Campbell had plans to view an eclipse in another country, where she would see more covering of the sun, but was happy on Monday that fate had it that she should remain in Jamaica to show enthusiasts here how to use the telescope and explain what they were seeing.
Given that a flyer promoting the public viewing was only made on Friday, physics staff member and facilitator of the Astronomy Club Karlus Redway was surprised by the large turnout on the balcony of the Department of Physics.
“My perspective is a little bit weird, because I’m in the Department of Physics and we did not expect such a big crowd, and it was interesting to see hundreds of people passing through with such interest in the eclipse. That was the most interesting part for me, the size of the crowd that came out to see it,” Redway told The Gleaner.
“Generally, [for events related to physics on campus], you don’t get this kind of draw at the drop of a hat like that,” he said.
Although not a scientist by profession, Sean Wilson, an active member of the Astronomical Association of Jamaica, said he went to The UWI, Mona, to view the partial eclipse because of his love for science.
“I love nature. I love how the solar system works and how it relates to us and I’ve been with the Astronomical Association for a while, and I love what they do. It makes me look at life more interestingly to see how the universe works,” Wilson said, noting that his love for science was sparked by his dad, Michael Wilson.