The TCU community was filled with excitement on Monday, Apr. 8 as students and faculty gathered at the TCU Campus Commons for a once-in-a-generation astronomical event–a total solar eclipse. 

Campus provided the perfect backdrop for viewers were equipped with NASA’s live feeds and solar glasses to safely view the eclipse. Despite initial apprehensions about eye safety, the TCU community came together in a spirit of curiosity and camaraderie. 

“Slight fear, I do want to maintain my eyesight so I’m being cautious, but also just being part of the TCU community and supporting,” said Zoranna Jones, assistant dean for the College of Science & Engineering.

The eclipse viewing experience included unpredictable cloud coverage that teased viewers throughout the event. 

“All the clouds kept covering it,” said Colleen Millns, daughter of Matthew Millns, the assistant director of benefits for TCU Human Resources. “So many people were like ‘Yeah! No! Yeah… never mind!’ That was a great part.”

Among the students, the eclipse evoked a sense of wonder and excitement. First-year students Shelby Ackermann and Kate Williams, alongside sophomore allied health science major Julia Vanoli, described the event as “pretty crazy” and “really cool.”

“I kept getting confused because the clouds were moving and so I didn’t know when it was actually happening,” Williams said. “Then, when it was actually happening, I was like ‘Oh my God wait, this is actually really cool.'”

First-year psychology major Olivia Paulson explained her experience seeing the eclipse for the first time.

“I’ve never seen one, so the fact that it went dark and you could see that outside ring of the sun was super cool,” she said.

The next total solar eclipse will not be visible again until the year 2044.