On April 8, many people nationwide traveled great distances to witness the Total Solar Eclipse. Viewers from all over the US observed this very rare occurrence that happens at least once every 12 years. The band a.k.a the path of totality, was visible to 31.6 million.
The sky grew dark around 3 p.m., and entered total darkness at 3:06 p.m. for the success of the eclipse. For one day, everyone was looking up at the sky, and taking it all in. Some people traveled inwards from the other states that would originally get a view, but not as the one in the path of totality. Many students and teachers along with their families have been waiting for this moment for years on end. Some have instruments at hand they used to see the eclipse.
Junior Shalom Adetula watched the eclipse from home with family, and the people in her neighborhood, and found a sense of livelihood.
“It was like a surreal moment. We watched the one in 2017, without being in the path of totality, and it was still cool then, but it was a a different feeling being in the path of totality with the sky going completely dark. It was nice being out and having family around and neighbors together. Overall it was a cool experience to share with the people,” Adetula said.
English teacher, Professor Andrew Marine along with his son and father went to Marine’s parents house to see the event. He had his camera with a 600 millimeter lens, and was able to get a perfect shot of the Eclipse and a time lapse video as well. His view on the eclipse has changed, although he has a since of what’s going to happen, the event itself was beyond what he expected. The eclipse appeared larger and more detailed than any camera could ever capture. Videos and photos of past eclipses laid reference for what was to happen, but seeing it and experiencing it in person was a whole different story.
Use link to view Andrew Marine’s 2024 Total Solar Eclipse video.
“My experience with that eclipse, I saw it as several events in one. It was like waking up in the morning in my camping routine. It wasn’t like a regular school day either, more of an anticipation day- much like the Indiana 500. I go there every year and you just get the same sense from it. The actual event itself was just beyond what I expected,” Marine said.
Senior Sarah Conlin, set up her 114AZ Newtonian Reflector Celestron ExploraScope telescope with a solar filter and was able to see the eclipse with amazing perspective.
“I went to my grandmas house and set up my telescope with a solar filter. We had snacks and my family and boyfriend came over and we all watched the eclipse together It was super epic, l’ve always loved astronomy and it was a once in a lifetime experience to see totality like that so I’m very grateful I was able to see it,” Conlin said.
