Hundreds gather at Cosmosphere for eclipse, including blind woman from Minnesota
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (KSNW) – All eyes turned toward the sky Monday afternoon as Americans caught a glimpse of the solar eclipse. Although the Sunflower State was not in the path of totality, many Kansans stepped outside to get a view of the eclipse.
In Hutchinson, the Cosmosphere was the place to be as hundreds gathered with their glasses to see the moon taking over the sun with nearly 87% of totality.
Hundreds of people threw their eclipse shades on and counted down the moments to when the moon overtook the sun, casting its shadow in Hutchinson.
Gallery: Upload your photos of the solar eclipse!
Paul and Cherise Neustrom made drove all the way from Minnesota, thrilled to have a chance to watch the rare view of the event.
“Exciting because we’ve been anticipating the solar eclipse, and we’ve been reading all about it, hearing all about it,” said Paul.
Cherise has been blind since birth she says it does not stop her from eclipse chasing.
“I’ve been in eclipses before, but not being able to see, it’s kind of different,” said Cherise.
She says she uses other senses to give her a feel of what is happening.
“I do have light perception, so I can see a bright light, and I can see darkness, but there’s a sense and a feel,” said Cherise.
The Hutchinson men’s basketball team took a break from class to see the eclipse. For some, it was their first time seeing the phenomenon.
“I was supposed to see an eclipse in 2017, but I’ve never seen it, so this is the day; this is my first time, too, once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said the Hutchinson men’s basketball team.
Some families created memories.
“This one’s kind of more special for me because of the kids, her being almost 3. I’m trying to get her into doing it as well,” said Carly Long.
You can donate your solar eclipse glasses to Latin American kids to use later this year
Lily Swinea helped people look through the Cosmosphere’s telescopes. She says Monday far exceeded her expectations.
“It was really cool, a lot of people were just awestruck with how close they were able to see it and how much of the sun was covered. I know a lot of people wanted to see totality, couldn’t get there, but were still really, really amazed with what they could see,” said Swinea.
Although we were not in the path of totality many people KSN spoke with were in awe to be able to witness the rare view. Several say they were thankful to cross it off their bucket list.
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