A SENSE of great excitement was felt at Monmouth School and Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls (HMSG) as pupils gathered to witness a rare moment in astronomical history.

Around 300 Monmouth School pupils, staff and members of the public came together on the school's lawn to see the near-total solar eclipse last Friday morning (20th March). It has been 16 years since the total eclipse in 1999, which was before many of the pupils were born.

Dr Keith Moseley, head of physics at Monmouth School, also runs the local astronomy club. He ensured the significant moment was a truly memorable occasion for the boys by setting up four telescopes to track the partial eclipse.

Imaginations were sparked and the boys came up with inventive ways to safely watch the sky.

Ben, a Year 7 pupil, made his own specs – complete with nose guard – using cereal packets and a special filter from Germany which Dr Moseley had ordered for him.

A keen member of the astronomy club, Ben had all the senior boys queuing up to borrow his homemade glasses.

The generous 11-year-old was thrilled to give everyone the chance to catch the eclipse.

As the moon crossed over the sun, an eerie atmosphere fell over the lawn and the temperature dropped, adding to the magic of the morning.

Over at HMSG, the physics department supplied special eye protection and some groups had made pin-hole cameras for the occasion. Girls learnt that a total solar eclipse occurs when the moon, which is 400 times smaller than the sun, moves directly between the sun and the earth, 400 times closer to earth than the sun.

It was an occasion that they will never forget and which really brought physics to life for the girls.

The event was supported by Monmouth Astronomical Research Society (MARS), which meets at the school every second Tuesday of the month.