“Seven-Up!” – Solar Viewing at the ROG, Friday 13 June 2025

Mike Meynell
Jun 13
2 min read

Our seventh successful solar session in a row – and it landed on Friday the 13th. Who said astronomers were superstitious?

I arrived on site at 10am to find Clive and Simon already raring to go, and by 10.30am we were fully operational. The session ran right through to 4pm, with only a brief interruption from some low-level cloud – a short pause in what was otherwise a blisteringly hot and humid day. With temperatures hitting 28°C in the shade and barely a breath of wind, it was definitely a day for water, sun protection and regular breaks!

Another busy day of solar viewing. Picture by Richard Summerfield.

Thanks to superb teamwork (and a gazebo providing much-needed shade), the session ran smoothly throughout.

The Sun didn’t disappoint. Several prominent sunspots were strung across the solar equator, accompanied by large prominences, striking filaments, and clearly visible plage – plenty for our visitors to enjoy and ask about.

More than 500 people attended, including several school groups in the morning. The ever-reliable Sunspotter proved especially helpful when haze or passing cloud made telescope viewing more challenging.

Lots of school groups in attendance. Picture by Alec Knox.

We were also joined by some familiar and new faces: Sue joined us for her first solar event and took to it brilliantly. Ed returned for his first session in several years – fantastic to have him back. Sara made a welcome cameo appearance, helping out with the Sunspotter, while Stan arrived in classic style with his trademark welder’s glass on a stick.

Sara and Sue having fun with the Sunspotter! Picture by Simon Hurst.

All in all, another hugely successful session.

A big thank you to all our volunteers: Matthew, Ed, John, Simon, Clive, Alec, Mike, Tim N, Tim R, Sue, Richard – and of course Sara and Stan.

It turned out to be a good call on the weather. With thunderstorms creeping into the Friday evening forecast and Saturday’s outlook looking doubtful, we seized the best available window – and just in time. By the time we packed away, the first signs of the incoming change were beginning to show.

That makes seven solar events successfully delivered so far this season – an unbroken streak we’re proud of. With eight more still to come, we’re building real momentum, and sessions like this one show just how much impact our volunteers can have.

Roll on the next one! https://www.flamsteed.info/event-details/public-solar-viewing-session-at-the-royal-observatory-greenwich-saturday-28-june-2025-backup-sunday-29-june