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Guernsey community unites out west for solar eclipse

Cobo. Credit: Rachel Rogers

Thousands of islanders basked in the August heat to watch the once-in-a-generation partial solar eclipse.

The west coast beaches and sea walls were packed with people getting a view of the diminishing sun, with some taking a place hours in advance

From 6.20pm the moon began to gradually glide across the sun, covering it by up to 95% at 7.17pm.

People of all ages gathered together, just as the high spring tide was coming in, to share a moment in history.

Credit: Carine Jennings and Anne-Marie Horkan

Many brought deckchairs and blankets, along with kitchen colanders and cereal boxes they had turned into improvised solar eclipse projectors.

Others had managed to get their hands on those sought-after special glasses they generously shared with those who hadn't been so well-prepared.

Those we spoke to described the occasion;

"A once in a lifetime experience."

"They say west is best, but today especially has been phenomenal."

"It's topped off the summer, I think."

"It was actually pretty cool, like the moon had turned all firey."

"Wow! The sense of peacefulness when it went really dark, it was really, really nice."

The next is not until 2081.

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