Solar eclipse inspires talk of Pac-man and Shinto myths
Karen HurnPeople across the South West gathered to watch a rare solar eclipse on Wednesday evening.
The event began at approx 19:00 BST with the Moon passing between the Earth and the Sun, creating a crescent shape in the sky.
In Sidmouth, families gathered to watch the event, with children describing it as a "once in a lifetime opportunity" and others comparing the shape of the Sun to a banana.
One young girl, Charlotte, said: "It's really exciting because the next time I'll see one, I'll be a lot older. It's like a once in a lifetime opportunity."
Lapland LassCharlie described the atmosphere as "magical", and said: "The kids haven't stopped screaming and been dancing around since we've been here."
Some people marked birthdays and anniversaries during the eclipse, giving the evening a romantic significance.
One young girl named Alice described the eclipse as brilliant, and said: "It kind of looks like Pac-man", whilst another felt that the sun disappearing was "kind of scary".
Commander Dave Lee, Royal Navy Parachute Display Team, spent the event parachuting into Pendennis Castle at the beginning of the eclipse.
Lee was one of five members of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines jumping out of the small aircraft at about 6,000ft (1829m), before deploying their colourful canopies.
Lee said: "It is really a once in a lifetime experience, you have a very real feeling of immediacy and freedom, and you get a great view."
David Heathfield spent the event telling stories about the "rare" mythology surrounding eclipses, in particular, the story of Amano-Iwato - the Japanese goddess of the sun - who hid in a cave depriving the world of light.
"I had to go all the way to Japanese Shinto mythology to find it", he said.
'Very spiritual'
In Cornwall, people gathered at locations including Bude and a stone circle on the moors, with one person describing the experience as "very strange" and "surreal".
Another person said: "I think it's very, very spiritual."
In West Penwith, Mark said wildlife appeared to react to the changing light, with birds returning to their roosts as the eclipse took place.
"All the birds have gone to bed," he said, adding that a flock of seagulls and choughs had been feeding on flying ants shortly before they returned to the cliffs.
