by Hundreds of families gathered at the Bell Museum on Monday to see a rare total solar eclipse.
A total solar eclipse is when the moon completely blocks the sun’s light – which happens around every 12 years in North America. This year, Minnesota had a 75% totality during the solar eclipse.
“Is the eclipse going to come here or not?” asked 5-year-old Dylan Bagel.
Many people asked this question because of cloudy weather conditions. Only clouds were visible during the peak of the solar eclipse’s totality.
People attending the event said they were disappointed by the weather.
“Oh, it is just disappointing; I have to say it is,” said Patty Hoolihan, who had hoped to see the eclipse in Minnesota instead of traveling.
Yemi Ige was visiting the Bell Museum for the first time to attend the special event. Ige said that because it is Minnesota, something had to happen with the weather.
“It’s spring in Minnesota, what can you say,” said Ige.
But many people made the most of it, even on a gloomy day. For Erica Koby, celebrating her son’s 6th birthday on the solar eclipse day is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“[It was] a lovely experience and a fun birthday party,” Koby said. “Exciting to have a birthday on the eclipse day.”
Despite the weather, many gathered at the Bell Museum for a sense of community.
Venkatash Rajmendram, a University of Minnesota alumni, said he decided to show up to be part of a community enjoying the solar eclipse when he wasn’t able to go somewhere else.
Yasmeen Iman, an undergraduate student, said seeing everyone getting together to have fun.
The total solar eclipse was a unique experience for Minnesotans to get together and share the excitement of a possibility.
