We are delighted to share the incredible story of Aston Smith, 10B, and his amazing summer celebrating one of the year’s most exciting astronomical events.
Aston has always been fascinated by space, so when he heard about the solar eclipse on 12 August, he was determined to share the experience with as many people as possible. He decided to organise a special eclipse viewing party for his local estate, inviting the community to come together and safely watch this spectacular event.
Aston’s charity, UK Astronomy, generously donated hundreds of pairs of specially designed solar-viewing glasses, which Aston gave to community members attending the event.
Aston on BBC Radio Northampton
Aston’s enthusiasm and knowledge of astronomy have already made him well known to the BBC, particularly through the books he has written. He was contacted by them and invited to be interviewed by BBC Radio Northampton Breakfast.
Aston was interviewed live in the studio on 12 August, and was invited back for another interview on 13 August, this time joining the programme via Teams. It was a fantastic opportunity for Aston to talk about his passion for space and his plans for the eclipse viewing event.
An Eclipse Party to Remember
The eclipse party was a huge success, with more than 400 people turning up to experience the event with Aston and his family.
Over 400 pairs of solar glasses were handed out, helping everyone to view the eclipse safely, and the event also raised an impressive £400+ for UK Astronomy.
But Aston’s event wasn't just about watching the eclipse. He encouraged the children attending to become scientists themselves, helping them conduct a range of experiments and observations.
During the eclipse, they measured the drop in temperature and changes in light levels (lux), and explored different ways to view the event using a variety of equipment. Aston shared his telescopes and demonstrated how something as simple as a colander, a pinhole camera, or even two pieces of paper could be used to observe the eclipse!
Inspiring Others
Aston’s passion for astronomy, combined with his enthusiasm for sharing his knowledge with others, made the event a truly memorable experience for the whole community.
His eclipse party also attracted significant attention on social media and featured in a number of news reports. As a result, Aston has been invited to feature in the October edition of L Magazine, which includes an article aimed at teenagers, highlighting Aston as an inspiration to others.
From organising an event for more than 400 people to appearing on BBC Radio Northampton, Aston showed just how far curiosity, creativity and a love of science can take you.
We are incredibly proud of Aston and look forward to seeing what other astronomical adventures await him!
Well done, Aston — and keep reaching for the stars!