Observing Earth From Space (OEFS) students gathered at Sachem's Wood landscape on Monday last week to witness a stunning solar eclipse that enthralled spectators despite the city only experiencing 91% totality. The event, hosted by the Yale Center for Earth Observation (YCEO) on Monday 8 April 2024, provided a unique opportunity for OEFS students and Yale community members to come together and share in the celestial spectacle.
At YCEO, we arranged for a solar binocular to be set up on the small green hill next to the Environmental Science Center (ESC). This allowed students to safely observe the eclipse in greater detail. We may not have been under the path of totality, but the view from here was still breathtaking.
From young students to professors the crowd was diverse. People brought picnic blankets, cameras, and even homemade viewing devices. The atmosphere was one of excitement and wonder as the moon began to obscure the sun, casting a surreal light over the landscape.
Although New Haven did not experience the full darkness that comes with 100% totality, the partial eclipse was no less impressive. At the peak of the eclipse, cheers erupted from the crowd as the crescent sun created a spectacular visual.
The next total solar eclipse visible from the Continental United States won't occur until August 23, 2044, making Monday's event a rare and memorable occasion for many. As the crowd dispersed, there was a shared sense of having been part of something special—a moment of celestial alignment that brought the community together.
Photo by Yue Li
Photo by Yue Li
Photo by Yeim We
Photo by Dr. Tarek Kandakji
Photo by Dr. Tarek Kandakji
Photo by Dr. Tarek Kandakji
Photo by Dr. Tarek Kandakji
Photo by Dr. Tarek Kandakji
Photo by Dr. Tarek Kandakji
Photo by Dr. Tarek Kandakji
Photo by Cong Xiao