MONROE - Residents of Monroe and beyond gathered in front of the Monroe Public Library to witness an eclipse of the sun Monday.
Using light-filtering eclipse glasses distributed by library officials, attendees glimpsed a sun mostly obscured by the moon as cloud cover dispersed.
After the eclipse's peak at about 1:15 p.m., some attendees shared their thoughts on the event.
Gene Rood, Monroe
"I was thinking that there wasn't going to be a place to watch it, but then I saw the crowd by the library," Monroe resident Gene Rood said.
Rood said he saw the last solar eclipse visible in the U.S. in 1972, although he witnessed that eclipse through a pinhole camera instead of through filtered lenses.
Rood said he hopes to be able to see the next total eclipse visible in the U.S. - on April 8, 2024 - although he added he'll be "a bit older then."
"It felt really awe-inspiring," Rood said.
Alex Sutter, Monroe
Alex Sutter was too young to witness the last total solar eclipse, or the last partial eclipse in 1991, but said Monday's eclipse felt humbling.
"It made me feel very small," Sutter said.
However, the celestial event inspired positive emotions in Sutter as well, he said.
"It made me happy," Sutter said. "It made me appreciate what happens in nature. Not everything has to be made."
Millie Stauffer, Monroe
Monroe resident Millie Stauffer agreed with Sutter.
"It makes you feel awfully small," she said.
However, Stauffer said she was fascinated by how the event diverged from her expectations.
"I was surprised by how bright it still was," Stauffer said. "It shows how powerful the sun is, that it can be so bright with just a sliver."
Sarah Monigold, Mount Horeb
Mount Horeb resident Sarah Monigold visited her family in Monroe Monday to experience the eclipse together.
"It was neat to be able to show it to my daughter," Monigold said. "It was pretty cool."
Monigold's preschool daughter, Nora, simply said she liked the "orange moon," referring to the faded crescent sun visible through her eclipse glasses.
Using light-filtering eclipse glasses distributed by library officials, attendees glimpsed a sun mostly obscured by the moon as cloud cover dispersed.
After the eclipse's peak at about 1:15 p.m., some attendees shared their thoughts on the event.
Gene Rood, Monroe
"I was thinking that there wasn't going to be a place to watch it, but then I saw the crowd by the library," Monroe resident Gene Rood said.
Rood said he saw the last solar eclipse visible in the U.S. in 1972, although he witnessed that eclipse through a pinhole camera instead of through filtered lenses.
Rood said he hopes to be able to see the next total eclipse visible in the U.S. - on April 8, 2024 - although he added he'll be "a bit older then."
"It felt really awe-inspiring," Rood said.
Alex Sutter, Monroe
Alex Sutter was too young to witness the last total solar eclipse, or the last partial eclipse in 1991, but said Monday's eclipse felt humbling.
"It made me feel very small," Sutter said.
However, the celestial event inspired positive emotions in Sutter as well, he said.
"It made me happy," Sutter said. "It made me appreciate what happens in nature. Not everything has to be made."
Millie Stauffer, Monroe
Monroe resident Millie Stauffer agreed with Sutter.
"It makes you feel awfully small," she said.
However, Stauffer said she was fascinated by how the event diverged from her expectations.
"I was surprised by how bright it still was," Stauffer said. "It shows how powerful the sun is, that it can be so bright with just a sliver."
Sarah Monigold, Mount Horeb
Mount Horeb resident Sarah Monigold visited her family in Monroe Monday to experience the eclipse together.
"It was neat to be able to show it to my daughter," Monigold said. "It was pretty cool."
Monigold's preschool daughter, Nora, simply said she liked the "orange moon," referring to the faded crescent sun visible through her eclipse glasses.