A Glimpse of Something You’ll Never Forget

Solar Eclipse Sweeps the Nation

Photo by Scott Szarapka on Unsplash

On April 8, 2024, millions of sky gazers across the globe were treated to a mesmerizing celestial event as a total solar eclipse swept across parts of North America, South America and Europe. The rare phenomenon, where the moon completely obscures the sun, drew wonder from onlookers as daylight turned to an eerie twilight.

In regions of totality, where the moon completely blocked the sun, spectators witnessed the solar corona, the sun's outer atmosphere, glowing in a halo around the darkened moon. Observers noted the sudden drop in temperature and the emergence of stars in the daytime sky.

Totality’s first stop on land cast Mazatlán’s sparkling beaches into darkness before continuing northeast toward Eagle Pass, Texas, one its first stops in the United States.

Total solar eclipses happen somewhere around the world every 11 to 18 months, but they don’t often cross paths with millions of people. The U.S. last got a taste in 2017 and won’t again see a coast-to-coast spectacle until 2045.

“I really enjoyed watching the eclipse,” senior Hannah Murphy said. “It was a cool moment because the last time I saw it was when we were in fifth grade. It was just a cool experience.”

While not everyone experienced a total eclipse, partial eclipses were visible in varying degrees across a broader swath of the Earth, offering a unique spectacle to those fortunate enough to catch a glimpse.

Maclay was in the path for the partial eclipse. Students were sent an email about safety precautions to take during the eclipse, and homeroom teachers handed out safety glasses to students to protect their eyes during prime eclipse hours.

The event also sparked scientific interests, with researchers and astronomers deploying telescopes and other instruments to study the sun's corona and gather data on the sun's magnetic field and other phenomena.

Despite the challenges posed by weather and geographic limitations, countless individuals captured the moment through photographs and videos, sharing the beauty and wonder of the cosmos with the world.