Wisconsinites gather in Indianapolis to see the total solar eclipse

While southeast Wisconsin had a pretty good view at 90% for Monday's solar eclipse, the sights were even better along the path of totality. We sent Morning Meteorologist Justin Thompson-Gee down to Indianapolis where he caught up with some other Wisconsinites who hit the road for this once in a lifetime event. 

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is used to hosting hundreds of thousands of racing fans every year for the Indy 500, but this year a different event: Total Solar Eclipse. Simply put, the celestial event happens when the moon passes in front of the sun at the right spot and blocks out the sun for a few minutes. 

Seven-year-old Jack Mahon from Delafield drove down to Indy with his dad Josh, "We're excited to be here and kind of a once in a lifetime event so we thought we better make the trip," said Josh Mahon.

For Josh this was a last-minute trip that he planned a week ago, but for others they had been planning this for months, "Back in December I heard it was coming so right away I looked for where totality would be and reserved a hotel room," said Dan Kohlmeier from West Allis.

But no matter how planned the trip was, they all came to Indy to see the same thing, "This is our first total solar eclipse. We've never seen one and had to see one at least once," said Kohlmeier.

We also noticed a familiar theme between a lot of these so-called eclipse chasers - racing.

"We're racing fans and space nerds," said Mahon.

For them it was even more special to experience the total solar eclipse from the track and stands of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, "I've been to the Speedway for many things, and this is definitely once in a lifetime," said Mike Chase.

When we asked Chase if he was here more for the racing or the eclipse, his response: "More of the racing. I'm not going to lie."

But on Monday the checkered flag went to something outside of this world, the Toal Solar Eclipse. And this winner did not disappoint with no clouds to worry about in Indianapolis whatsoever and nearly four minutes of near darkness. "To watch the little sliver of light and then get dark was just once in a lifetime," said Chase. 

"Everyone got quiet and cheered. It was fantastic," followed Chase's wife Krystal.

"I'll have something to tell the kids and grandkids and everyone I know," added Kohlmeier.

For Meteorologist Justin Thompson-Gee, it was the "sciency" stuff that got him excited. Baily's beads which are these little dips and peaks of light that show up around the edge of moon as the sun's light dances over the moon's mountains and craters, the Diamond Ring when the edge of the moon starts to sparkle, and the sun's corona shown in all its majesty. The temperature also dropped over five degrees during totality in Indianapolis according to the National Weather Service. 

The next total solar eclipse to cross the United States will be in 2045 and in 74 years in 2099 the path of totality goes right over Milwaukee.