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Eclipsed and Awed

Moments before the solar eclipse reached totality on April 8, 2024, the enthusiastic watch party on Case Western Reserve's Freiberger Field quieted, the temperature plummeted nearly 10 degrees, and the sky grew hazy and orange. At 3:13 p.m., as thousands of eyes looked to the sky, the moon blocked out the sun, darkness fell and the crowd erupted in cheers.

"Everything else going on in life kind of melted away, and it was just the eclipse," said junior Joel George. For nearly four minutes, awestruck students pointed at the sun's white corona; some cried, others hugged. "I can honestly say that was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," said junior Amman Spencer.

— JULI REGAS