Not typically one to be overshadowed, the sun was the star of the show Monday, April 8.

Thousands of people gathered at Brock University to take in the total solar eclipse, which had a starring role in the day but was supported by a variety of educational exhibits and activities taking place on campus.

While the sky remained mostly cloudy, the rise of collective cheers on Alumni Field signalled short intermittent clear patches, when the partial eclipse became more visible.

Despite the less than ideal weather, the experience of darkness during midday and a glowing 360-degree sunset-like horizon created a memorable experience for those in attendance.

Brock University welcomed the community to campus Monday, April 8 to experience a variety of educational exhibits and activities, in addition to witnessing the total solar eclipse on Alumni Field.

Along with collectively witnessing the rare celestial phenomenon, Brock’s Eclipse on the Escarpment event brought community members together to learn about the science behind the sighting and related topics touching on history and culture.

Visitors had the chance to learn about the celestial origins of the elements of the periodic table, create pinhole cameras and take photos in front of a green screen that produced an image with the total solar eclipse.

Meanwhile, researchers from Brock and elsewhere were also busy on campus monitoring the eclipse and its effects using scientific instruments, such as a smart digital telescope, an infrared thermal imaging camera and a scientific weather station. The images produced by the equipment were also included as part of Brock University’s livestream of the total solar eclipse.

In addition to the photo gallery below, images from the event can be viewed on Brock University’s Facebook page.