A special Helios listening party will mark the solar eclipse at the University of Birmingham’s city centre hub.
Visitors will have the chance to celebrate the solar eclipse on 12 August, with a unique, immersive experience at the Exchange in Centenary Square.
To mark the occasion, a special listening party will accompany Helios, a breathtaking large-scale illuminated sculpture of the Sun by acclaimed British artist Luke Jerram.
Using high-resolution (72dpi) photographic solar imagery, the five-metre-in-diameter sculpture reveals the astonishing details of the Sun's surface, from swirling sunspots to dramatic solar flares, all illuminated from within.
The listening party will allow visitors to enjoy the glow of Helios whilst immersed in Duncan Speakman and Sarah Anderson’s specially created surround-sound composition, which accompanies the sculpture.
Helios, and our Seeing the Sun wraparound exhibition, gives visitors the chance to experience the wonder and science of the Sun, up close – and without needing to depend on clear skies.
Blending fire and heat, NASA recordings from solar missions, the dawn chorus, a summer beach, Sun- and light-related festivals, and uplifting ambient music, the composition will create a multi-sensory journey inspired by the Sun.
The free drop-in event will run from 6pm to 8pm with the 30-minute soundtrack playing on loop throughout the evening.
Cassie Chadderton, Director of Culture, Collections and Public Engagement at the University of Birmingham, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming people to our listening party and experiencing Helios in its full splendour on the evening of the eclipse. Helios, and our Seeing the Sun wraparound exhibition, gives visitors the chance to experience the wonder and science of the Sun, up close – and without needing to depend on clear skies.”
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, partially or totally blocking the view of the Sun from a small part of the Earth. This happens approximately every six months, when the Moon's orbital plane is closest to Earth's orbit.
For people in the UK and Ireland, this eclipse is particularly significant as it will be the greatest eclipse coverage visible here since the total solar eclipse of 1999.
Sean Elvidge, Professor of Space Environment at the University of Birmingham, said: “Solar eclipses are among the most striking astronomical events we can witness, offering a rare opportunity to see the precise alignment of the Sun, Moon and Earth.
“For people in the UK and Ireland, this eclipse is particularly significant as it will be the greatest eclipse coverage visible here since the total solar eclipse of 1999. It is important never to look directly at the Sun during an eclipse, so make sure you have certified solar viewing glasses if you are planning on seeing it for yourself. If the viewing conditions are not right, or if you don’t have protective glasses, Helios is a wonderful way to look at the Sun in a completely safe way.”
You can find more information about the Helios Listening Party on the University of Birmingham website. Helios and the accompanying wraparound exhibition Seeing the Sun will be on display until 1st November 2026.
Discover more about Helios and the events taking place at The Exchange in Birmingham city centre.
For more information and media inquiries, please contact Ellie Hail (e.hail@bham.ac.uk), Communications Officer, University of Birmingham, on +44 (0)7966 311 409. Out-of-hours, please call +44 (0) 121 414 2772.
Professor of Space Environment
Staff profile for Professor Sean Elvidge, Professor of Space Environment in the Space Environment and Radio Engineering (SERENE) group in the School of Engineering.
