COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — As the moon moved to block the sun this afternoon in a solar eclipse path which was visible across Texas, Oklahoma and New England, those Columbus State University students and Columbus residents got a unique view.
The CSU Coca-Cola Space Science Center observatory was filled with STEM students and others who gathered to watch the 80% eclipse visible in Columbus. Across the country, millions of others also prepared to watch the eclipse.
WRBL’s Hannah James and Kaylee Barbee caught up with Murphy Pounds, an attendee at Monday’s viewing. Pounds recalled the 2017 eclipse.
“What I remember from that were the shadows. My favorite part was just looking at all the leaves – they start bending and the shadows start distorting and everything, it’s a really cool effect,” Pounds said.
Brothers Gavin and Tanner Rushing were looking forward to the eclipse, having been in second grade and kindergarten during the last one. Both agreed they were excited to see the dark circle and visible corona of the sun during the eclipse.
“I kind of want to see the dark side, like the dark circle and then the corona. That’ll be cool,” Gavin said pre-partial eclipse. “Yeah, I agree with my brother,” Tanner said. WRBL caught up with them after the partial eclipse passed.
“It was eye opening. It felt surreal, how it got darker, it got cooler. I’m kind of speechless at this point,” Gavin said after.
“It was pretty nice. This is the first one I’ve actually experienced, like with my eyes and not on a computer screen. So, it was very nice. It actually got a lot darker, it got dimmer, and it got colder,” Tanner added.
More from Gavin and Tanner Rushing and Scott Norman
During the eclipse, many of the students manned telescopes at the science center. Some of the students were assistants who work at the center but spend their days as students in CSU’s science, education and astronomy programs.
Scott Norman, director of educational services at the Coca-Cola Space Science Center said programs like this can help launch students into orbit.
“We’ve got several alumni from this program that have gone on to work for NASA and also private industry that within the space field, as well,” Norman said, adding some students have gone on to become Ph.D. professors themselves.
More from Delta Flowers and Murphy Pounds
For Delta Flowers, a space science center assistant and CSU junior studying astrophysics and planetary geology, the eclipse was an excellent opportunity to help others view a visual representation of his passion.
“It’s amazing. It’s not only is it something that I’m really passionate about, but I get to — in the future, this is on my resume,” Flowers said. He added it is rare that he gets to use the telescope herself, so being able to share that experience with others was extra special.
More from Troi Hudson
Troi Hudson, a third year Earth and space science student at CSU, was tasked with manning the main telescope. The view from the telescope she oversaw was being livestreamed for everyone in Columbus to view. Hudson is in her second semester apart of NASA’s Space Grant Scholarship.
“All we do is just use the pan settings to keep the telescope focused on the sun and we’re using a software application that like connects what I’m viewing through the telescope down … like a split screen,” Hudson said, explaining how the telescope eclipse viewing worked.
Hudson spent last semester observing the sun for her degree and wants to pursue a career in physics post-graduation.
In Oklahoma, WRBL’s Cody Nickel watched the eclipse in Idabel, which was plunged into four minutes and 19 seconds of darkness. This was the longest darkness along the path of totality.
At 3:02 p.m. ET the moon reached the height of its visible eclipse in Columbus. By 4:18 p.m. ET, the pass was fully complete, and the eclipse was over.
The next solar eclipse to be visible in Columbus will not be until 2045; however, some areas will actually see a complete solar eclipse in the News 3 viewing area.
