Great American Solar Eclipse Comes to Marist

Marist students enjoyed a view of a rare solar eclipse on April 8. Credit: Erin Holton ‘25

The U.S. had a front-row seat on April 8 to the total solar eclipse, a phenomenon that has not occurred since 2017. The country buzzed with excitement over the out-of-this-world event, especially for the millions in the path of totality. 

Although Marist College was not in the path of totality, witnessing the eclipse at 94% totality, students, staff and faculty were over the moon. On the day of, students collaborated with faculty to create camera obscuras, devices that project an image through a small hole using light.

Dr. Nelson Sivers, a lecturer of physics, taught students how to make the obscuras, and afterwards presented on the science of the eclipse. Students, faculty and community members attended the presentation, where Dr. Sivers discussed the conditions of how eclipses occur and other interesting facts about solar eclipses. This was also his first solar eclipse.

“As a scientist, the turnout and excitement from the students has been amazing. I had not anticipated that so many students would be interested in this. Everybody’s excited,” said Sivers.

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, blocking the face of the sun. Partial eclipses are more common, but this is the first total solar eclipse seen in North America since Aug. 17, 2017. The path of totality went through 13 states, starting off in Texas and completing its path in Maine. The predicted duration of totality was up to four minutes and 27 seconds, almost double the duration of totality of the 2017 eclipse. 

Several major cities landed in the path of totality, including Dallas, Cleveland, and Rochester, New York. The density of the population in the path of totality — over 32 million — combined with people looking to get the best view, with reports suggesting that cities would be swamped with traffic and tourists. 

According to eclipse cartographer Michael Zeiler, it was predicted that between 931,000 and 3.7 million people would travel from outside the path of totality to get a better view. The reported number was even more — according to the Associated Press, it was “the continent’s biggest eclipse audience ever, with a couple hundred million people living in or near the shadow’s path, plus scores of out-of-towners flocking in to see it.”

Several food companies in the U.S. have also used the eclipse as the perfect opportunity to market their brand. Krispy Kreme created a limited-edition donut that features an Oreo in the center, mimicking the view of an eclipse. On the day of the eclipse, Pizza Hut offered $12 large pizzas in their “Total Eclipse of the Hut” event. SunChips even paired with astronaut Kellie Gerardi to promote their super-exclusive Solar Eclipse Chip flavor, which people could only have a chance to win during the short duration of the eclipse itself. 

Back on campus, the weather this spring has been representative of the old saying about “April showers,” but a pleasant warm front came in just in time for a good view of the eclipse. The day of the eclipse was partially sunny with a temperature in the warm 60s, and several students had already been spending the day outside.

People all over campus donned special viewing glasses and held up eclipse viewers to the sky to enjoy the eclipse. The campus green outside the Marist Rotunda was packed with students, as well as other green spots on campus, like the quad between McCormick and O’Shea Halls. Many students brought out blankets on the grass, and some even brought out their own chairs to sit in. The energy bustled between groups of people, and many chatted about how unique the event they were seeing was.

As the sun dimmed behind the moon, the energy among the crowds rose, and at its peak, people all over campus cheered and pointed at the sky, a heartwarming culmination to this unique event witnessed by millions of Americans.

“This is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen, and I really mean that,” said Martin De La Cruz ‘24. “I’ve truly never seen anything like this. It’s wild that we just get to see it from our college.” His friends nodded and agreed.