Photos: Triangle crowds get a slice of the total eclipse

The rare solar eclipse on April 8 did not cast a total shadow on North Carolina, as it did in other parts of the country.

But that didn’t stop thousands of curious onlookers to head outside Thursday afternoon with their special glasses to experience about 80% of the sun eclipsed by the moon.

With gatherings at the Morehead Planetarium, parks and fields and in streets outside office buildings — basically anywhere there was an unobstructed view of the sky — the eclipse gave viewers a rare experience.

This eclipse, which was total in parts of North America, was the last total eclipse visible on the continent until 2045.

A composite image of the solar eclipse as seen during a watch party at the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center at UNC-Chapel Hill on Monday, April 8, 2024. Travis Long/tlong@newsobserver.com
A composite image of the solar eclipse as seen during a watch party at the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center at UNC-Chapel Hill on Monday, April 8, 2024. Travis Long/tlong@newsobserver.com
Paris Miller-Foushee wears protective glasses while viewing the solar eclipse during a watch party at the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center at UNC-Chapel Hill on Monday, April 8, 2024. Travis Long/tlong@newsobserver.com
Paris Miller-Foushee wears protective glasses while viewing the solar eclipse during a watch party at the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center at UNC-Chapel Hill on Monday, April 8, 2024. Travis Long/tlong@newsobserver.com
From left, Amir Foushee, 12, Chandra Dunston and Paris Miller-Foushee wear protective glasses while viewing the solar eclipse during a watch party at the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center at UNC-Chapel Hill on Monday, April 8, 2024. Travis Long/tlong@newsobserver.com
From left, Amir Foushee, 12, Chandra Dunston and Paris Miller-Foushee wear protective glasses while viewing the solar eclipse during a watch party at the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center at UNC-Chapel Hill on Monday, April 8, 2024. Travis Long/tlong@newsobserver.com
From left, Graeme, 7, Janet, and Ellis Sheaves, 10, wear protective glasses while viewing the solar eclipse during a watch party at the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center at UNC-Chapel Hill on Monday, April 8, 2024. Travis Long/tlong@newsobserver.com
From left, Graeme, 7, Janet, and Ellis Sheaves, 10, wear protective glasses while viewing the solar eclipse during a watch party at the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center at UNC-Chapel Hill on Monday, April 8, 2024. Travis Long/tlong@newsobserver.com
Six-year-old Evey Churchill wears protective glasses while viewing the solar eclipse during a watch party at the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center at UNC-Chapel Hill on Monday, April 8, 2024. Travis Long/tlong@newsobserver.com
Six-year-old Evey Churchill wears protective glasses while viewing the solar eclipse during a watch party at the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center at UNC-Chapel Hill on Monday, April 8, 2024. Travis Long/tlong@newsobserver.com