Solarfest 2024: Penn State students and faculty gather to watch once-in-a-lifetime stellar event

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State students, faculty, staff and the surrounding State College community gathered on Monday, April 8, at Medlar Field for SolarFest, an event hosted by the Eberly College of Science’s Department of Astrology and Astrophysics, as well as the State College Spikes, one of the local collegiate baseball teams.

Happy Valley was one of the lucky few areas to be in the path of 95% totality, where the sun was blocked out by the moon for a little over an hour. Unfortunately, the cloudy forecast obscured the view of the sun, leaving only moments of the eclipse able to be seen by spectators.

“I’ve never seen [an eclipse] before, and I’ve heard the next one won’t be until something like 2044. It seems like a pretty big deal. I’m excited to see the sky go dark,” Brett Wilson said, a third-year Penn State student who attended the event.

Attendees at the event distributed free solar eclipse safety glasses, which were funded by the Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium. The event also featured other scientific and STEM-related events, such as a rocket launch exhibit.

“I came out just to see the eclipse, the next time I will get the chance will be sometime when I’m an old man, so this is a good opportunity. It was a bit cool to see the eclipse without [the special glasses], because of all the clouds,” Aiden Vosper said, another student who was in attendance.

According to experts, the next total solar eclipse won’t be visible in the United States until the year 2044, with its path of totality reaching far fewer states. However, it seems that many in State College will have to stick around for another two decades if they want to see a proper eclipse, as many people left Medlar Field disappointed.

Gavin Rollman is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email gmr5526@psu.edu.