Yesterday, for the first time in seven years, a total solar eclipse passed through the North American continent.

A total solar eclipse is an astronomical event that occurs when the moon completely covers the sun. This creates the illusion of a ring of fire in the sky. A solar eclipse varies from a lunar eclipse as it is caused by the moon passing between the Earth and Sun, whereas a lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth comes between the Moon and Sun; causing Earth’s shadow to fall on the Moon. 

Yesterday’s eclipse was the last to pass through the North American continent until two decades later in 2044. This made this space event even more worthy of experiencing.

Astrophysicist were especially interested in this special eclipse as we are near the maximum point of the Sun’s 11-year cycle. This means the Sun’s corona and plasma tendrils are expected to create a rare ring of fire illusion.

“Because we’re in a period of high solar activity, everyone in the path of totality has a chance to see beautiful loops and streams of plasma coming off of the sun.” said Jo Dunkley, Princeton University’s Professor of Physics and Astrophysical Sciences. 

The solar eclipse’s path of totality encompasses 31.6 million Americans, which is way more compared to 2017’s 12 million viewers. Traffic was expected to soar all over the country as Americans are willing to travel in order to see the eclipse — although few accidents or issues were reported.

“Just remember what would take you an hour on a normal day might take you two hours or more, as everyone else in the world is watching the same weather forecast,” said Mark Littmann, co-author of “Totality: The Great North American Eclipse of 2024.”

Unique glasses are required when viewing a solar eclipse. Viewing a solar eclipse without proper lenses may lead to distorted vision or permanent blindness. Counterfeit solar eclipse glasses are polluting the market.

“If you put on something that you think are solar glasses and you see lights in your home, or lights in an office or store, and you can vividly see the outline of those lights, they are no good,” said Noah Petro, a scientist for the LRO project at Nasa. Real solar have an ISO certification: ISO 12312-2. Most students bought solar lenses on Amazon. 

“I got to see [the eclipse] yesterday afternoon,” said senior Nevaeh Burwell-inyang. “The whole track team stopped to watch it together.”

The science department handed out free solar eclipse glasses to the first 100 students who appeared on the front lawn yesterday at 2:45. Several students gathered to watch before the clouds came in.

New Jersey viewed a 90% total solar eclipse with the eclipse reaching its maximum at 3:24 PM, but clouds obscured views between 3:30 and 4:00 PM. However, many students and families were able to catch glimpses before and all the way past 4:05 PM.