'Once-in-a-lifetime experience': All eyes to the skies to see the 2024 solar eclipse in SE Wisconsin
MILWAUKE (CBS 58) -- The weather in southeast Wisconsin could not have been more perfect for viewing the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8.
Thousands gathered at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee to watch the eclipse together.
"It's really fulfilling seeing people get interested in astronomy. It really kind of warms me," UW-Milwaukee Planetarium Presenter Kieran Arnold said.
On Monday, April 8, Arnold was just one of the many planetarium employees helping hand out at least 3,500 solar eclipse glasses to those who came out for the planetarium's watch party.
"The glasses are specially made for this eclipse," Arnold explained.
The event had an indoor and an outdoor element. Inside the Student Union, people enjoyed pizza and watched a NASA livestream of the eclipse. Outside, people were able to witness the solar occurrence with their glasses. When the eclipse peaked at 2:08 p.m., thousands were in the courtyard.
"For me, it's cause I've never seen one, so I was like I might as well just try it, see how it looks," student Diego Leija said.
Many community members stopped by to join in on the fun.
"We've been looking forward to this for a while, so pretty cool so far," Jennifer Rudnik said. "I think it's great. It's great that there are so many people here, even though we're not in the path of totality. It's cool to have this many people in the community come out, and it's a beautiful day."
Rudnik tells CBS 58 this was a special day for her and her 3rd grader.
"We're members of the planetarium, and my daughter and I come to shows sometimes, and this is her first solar eclipse," she said.
The university had telescopes ready to give people a more impressive view of the eclipse.
"They have a special filter on them that you can actually point at the sun, and you view the moon passing over the sun safely," Arnold explained.
For more information on the UW-Milwaukee Planetarium, click here.
And at Harvey Elementary, students and teachers got a rare opportunity to see a near total solar eclipse.
Since Kenosha is so far south in the state, it gave the city one of the best views in Wisconsin.
“It’s getting smaller and smaller when you see it,” said 1st grader Ah'marianna.
The city of Kenosha got to a witness a 91% solar eclipse. First grade teacher Kathy Dever said she saw a lot of people driving south to get a better view.
“I thought, why? We have a great view where we are,” said Dever.
Students of all grade levels spent the day learning what a solar eclipse is before the main event.
"We are looking at the sun and seeing if it can disappear," said 1st grader Theodore.
For the rare solar phenomenon, the Adler Planetarium donated solar eclipse glasses to the school, for the students to enjoy.
"They’re helping us to look at the sun so we can see how the moon blocks the sun,” Theodore explained.
The students were not the only ones looking forward to this day. Former STEM, now 4th grade teacher, Airielle Hodges, says she is pumped to watch the eclipse.
“It won’t happen again for another 20 years for us here in the United States. It’s just really cool that I get to experience it with my kids today,” said Hodges.
Milwaukee is projected to be in the path of totality on September 14, 2099.
Dozens of people also gathered outside the Milwaukee Public Museum to experience the solar eclipse.
The museum had planetarium educators available, and telescopes with a solar filter for safe eclipse viewing.
They also used a telescope to project the sun and moon onto a white board, showing the progress of the eclipse.
RIGHT NOW: @MKEPublicMuseum is hosting a solar eclipse watch party, complete with telescopes and projectors. Dozens of people from all ages are here to enjoy the last visible eclipse in Milwaukee until 2099! @CBS58pic.twitter.com/IkWOThDYdC
— Jenna Wells (@JennaWellsNEWS) April 8, 2024
It was an exciting experience for the museum's planetarium educators, as they got to share their love for space with the community.
"We're always doing night sky shows to try to tell people more about the night sky, what you can see here in Wisconsin, but this is, for most people, a once in a lifetime experience to really see the moon move across the sun," said Planetarium educator, Marshall Ward.
The planetarium has been running a show about the solar eclipse since September, sharing information ahead of the big day.
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