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A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby obscuring the view of the Sun from a small part of Earth, totally or partially.

On Monday, August 8, 2024, around 2 p.m. CDT, people all across the United States had been waiting. Such an event is often a once in a lifetime opportunity.

And, for some, the eclipse occurred many not-knowing are caring.

But for students all around the country the solar eclipse was a big deal.

At Pike Liberal Arts School, it was a highly-anticipated event.

“We came outside to look at the sun but we had to wear sunglasses or the eclipse would burn our eyes,” a group of young students explained.

Much has been said about the fact that a total solar eclipse won’t be visible again from the contiguous United States until August 22, 2044, but totality will only occur over North Dakota and Montana. The next total solar eclipse with a coast-to-coast path spanning the Lower 48 states will occur on August 12, 2045.

“Twenty-years?!”

The younger children seemed fascinated by what they could see through the dark glasses and expressed amazement at how the sun looked with the moon passing between it and Mother Earth.

Although, the school lawn was filled with students, there was a quietness that indicated that students of all ages were captivated by what they were witnessing, almost in awe of what was happening with the passing of the moon.

“It is always an interesting experience for students to be a part of scientific and historical phenomena like an eclipse, even if it is just a partial one” said Austin Green, PLAs history teacher. “Given that the next eclipse, which will pass through Pike County and the Wiregrass, will not happen until 2044, students started recognizing just how interesting it was.”

Green said many expressed fascination in that they will be able to tell their children that they saw an eclipse when they were in high school.

“I think that it is just an amazing testament to God’s creation and how He ordains the ‘heavenly spheres’ to follow the paths that they do,” Green said. “I can remember the eclipse of 2017 and, as a student at Troy University, I can remember many students taking time to gaze at it in amazement between classes. Both eclipses were just awesome experiences.”

In all probability, students who witnessed the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024 will be watching.