It was just a phase.
Millions of Americans on the path to totality woke up Monday to gloomy skies that they feared would threaten their view of the celestial spectacle. However, the darkness was only replaced by a picturesque afternoon perfect for viewing the eclipse.
“That was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” said engineer Brian Harris, 57, of West Terra Haute, Ind., of the darkness that blanketed Indianapolis during the total solar eclipse. told the Post just minutes after the cover began to clear.
“I’m a science and data expert, but sometimes, sir, it’s not a coincidence,” he said, clearly awed by what he saw.
Some solar eclipse viewers, like Ethan McCumber, 25, of Brooklyn, scrambled to change their travel plans after checking the weather forecast Monday morning.
“We had been planning to fly to Rochester for a while, but it was 90% cloudy, so we canceled that trip and found a flight to Indianapolis instead,” he said. After the meal, he admitted to being bitten by the eclipse bug. Carbondale, Illinois was able to catch a brief glimpse of the 2017 total solar eclipse.
“I had to see this because it was so amazing. It was cloudy, but the clouds opened up like a hole for a solar eclipse and it exploded.”
Karen Pinsker was one of the hundreds of people gathered outside the Indianapolis International Airport to stop what they were doing around 3 p.m. and look up at the sky where the eclipse was at its peak.
“The universe turned upside down for just three minutes,” Pinsker said. During the eclipse, he fought back tears, clutched his face, and muttered, “Oh my god.”
“It was very emotional. I felt connected to the Earth, to the universe, and to the people next to me who were going through the same experience. It was so special.”
Everything you need to know about the 2024 solar eclipse
- The solar eclipse will occur on Monday, April 8th, blocking the sun from more than 180 million people in its path.
- The eclipse will spread from the Pacific coast of Mexico across North America, hitting 15 U.S. states and reaching the shores of Newfoundland, Canada.
- New Yorkers will experience a solar eclipse Monday just after 2 p.m.
- Experts say a massive solar explosion known as a coronal mass ejection is expected. Ryan French of the National Solar Observatory in Boulder, Colorado, explains that this happens when huge particles from the sun are sent flying into space.
- To avoid serious damage to the eyes, during the pre- and post-total partial eclipse stages, the phenomenon must be viewed through appropriate glasses, such as eclipse glasses or hand-held solar observing devices.
- The next total solar eclipse will occur on August 12, 2026, and will be visible to people in Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia, and parts of Portugal.
Solar eclipse watchers in Erie, Pennsylvania, some of whom paid as much as $1,200 a night for hotel rooms in total, spent the morning wondering if they were getting their money’s worth as gray clouds blanketed the city. I welcomed you. , it rained intermittently.
Despite the inclement weather, Erie Downtown Partnership officials urged sky-gazers not to be discouraged by the humid conditions and assured attendees the rain would pass in time for the big show. did.
Turns out they were right all along.
As if on cue, as the moon began to cross the sun at 2 p.m., the clouds parted and light streamed in, giving an unobstructed view to the hundreds of beer drinkers gathered at Oliver’s Beer Garden on the shores of Lake Erie. it was done.
At the end of the match, glasses clinked and the crowd cheered. Many have spent hours draining away the nervous energy brought on by unstable weather. Eclipse watchers were treated to eclipse-themed adult drinks, including the bar’s Solarita and Sun Beam.
Oliver’s owner Nick Scott, 83, told the Post the incident marks a watershed moment for the Western Pennsylvania burg.
“For Erie, this is the biggest event in our city’s history. We are on the path to wholeness and we are receiving national attention.”
As for the fortuitous change in weather, Scott said he wasn’t surprised if it rained in the morning, but “I was surprised when the sky cleared up at the perfect time, because it would probably get cloudy again later.”
But I’d rather be lucky than good, so it’s a great, great feeling,” the octogenarian said as a DJ played sun and moon-themed songs.
Bar patrons, too, shared their disbelief at the shocking change in weather as they watched the sky through safety glasses as the moon slowly grazed the sun.
John Ritts, 40, of Pittsburgh, had been glued to his Oliver home since about 11 a.m., watching the clouds and drizzle build up and crossing his fingers that it would all clear in time.
As the peak of the eclipse approached at 3:16 p.m., his mood lifted.
“You know, it looked perfect. Beautiful, clear skies. We just got lucky. Everybody’s congratulating us,” he said.
“So it’s really incredible to see this and I’m really happy to be here.”
Of the 31 million people who live in totality, where the sun is completely obscured by the moon for up to four minutes, 12 million live in Texas, more than any other state.
But the morning skies over the Lone Star State foreshadowed the unfortunate sight of the last total solar eclipse visible from North America until 2044.
In Houston, a whopping 94% of the sun was blocked at the peak of the astronomical event, but as the eclipse began at 12:20 p.m., crowds gathered at a watch party at the NASA Space Center under cloudy and drizzly skies. It slowly came together.
Once again, the sun and moon began to line up and the clouds opened, allowing Houstonians to witness a nearly total solar eclipse the size of Texas.
Some spectators told the Post that the few remaining clouds actually changed the experience for the better.
“It was amazing, we could see everything. I think the clouds actually helped,” said a slightly surprised Houston resident Monica Martinez.
“You had two different experiences,” added Adam Burke, also from Houston.
“The clouds kept moving, so it was very special,” said Diana Sprung, who is visiting Houston from Germany.
Throughout the eclipse, onlookers cheered every few minutes as the moon slowly approached in front of the sun. As the clouds moved, the majestic scenery became even more dramatic.
“It’s not something you get to see every day and have the opportunity to experience with your grandchildren,” Carla Thompson said.
“It’s so exciting!”
