![solar eclipse - at Armour Hill](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4411/35915685643_087e4d7473_c.jpg)
I did hear though that there would be "viewing equipment" available up on Armour Hill, here in Peterborough. Alex happened to be here for a short visit, so I dragged him along with me.
![solar eclipse - at Armour Hill small crowd](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4361/36555338772_97c34dc819_c.jpg)
A moderate-sized crowd had already gathered when we arrived to view the eclipse and quite a few more kept coming, the closer we got to complete eclipse - which here, was only 68%.
![solar eclipse - telescopes and crowd](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4353/35890192184_f26bf1e96f_c.jpg)
The equipment was in the form of numerous telescopes set up by The Peterborough Astronomical Association (PAA) for public viewing. They had also been handing out a few hundred pairs of glasses but had run out before we got there.
![solar eclipse - son watching sun](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4347/35890198364_1b2361bb2f_c.jpg)
We each took peeks through the telescopes and through glasses which so many people kindly offered to share.
![solar eclipse - telescope with camera](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4375/35915667953_5848421ad4_h.jpg)
At least one of the telescopes had a camera mounted on it which was showing images in real time. You can see the camera right near the man with his arms folded.
![solar eclipse -mounted camera](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4365/36555315172_9efb9e4592_c.jpg)
I decided to snap a photo of what that camera was seeing.
![solar eclipse - filtering lens](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4428/36586023641_e6c5d78799_h.jpg)
One of the PAA's devices was a handheld circular protective lens which we could not only peer through but also snap photos through it.
![solar eclipse - child with telescope](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4364/35890205204_f6e10c9ae7_h.jpg)
Kids took their turns at the telescopes. It wasn't always easy to focus on it right away - you needed to move around a bit to find it which made it a bit tough for the kidlets whose natural tendency was to grab the viewfinder and move it.
![solar eclipse - grandpas helping hands](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4425/35915673213_963b761348_c.jpg)
By the time we were much of the way through it, we could see the changes in the colour of the surrounding landscape. Everything was a little more saturated like it gets a couple of hours before sunset - but in the early afternoon. In that lovely light, scenes like this were everywhere. Parents and grandparents helping little ones to see the eclipse safely.
![solar eclipse - woman with filtering lens](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4391/35890189354_006704e8f2_c.jpg)
Here again, is that homemade, handheld lens which allows you to look and take photos through it. Had I known that, I'd have brought a more suitable camera lens.
![solar eclipse Aug 21 2017 - 5 stages](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4432/35890185464_8a9fa71eb8_c.jpg)
I gave it a try anyway and had less-than-stellar but good-enough results. Here are a few shots Photoshopped into one image. Pictures were taken at the half-hour mark, one hour (with clouds passing by), about ten minutes from totality, a couple of minutes from and right at totality (68% here).
It was great fun to witness it and to record it. Thanks, Peterborough Astronomical Association!
How was it in your part of the continent?