Solar Eclipse | Photo by Arden Reimer | The Wright State Guardian
Experiencing two minutes and 43 seconds of totality, Wright State University students experienced the once-in-a-lifetime 2024 total solar eclipse together, preceded by educational and engaging events.
Leading up to the eclipse
Even before the day of totality, the College of Science and Math was hard at work to prime students with education. On Thursday, April 4, students got to learn about eclipses and sun safety in the Student Union.
Dr. Ivan Medvedev presented “A Journey into Solar Eclipse Phenomena,” Dr. Scott Watamaniuk presented “Look, a Solar Eclipse. No, don't look!” and Navjot Singh and Robert Wyatt from Psychology Club and Psi Chi presented “Solar Psychosis: A Clinical Lens.”
Following these presentations, students attended a screening of “Despicable Me,” a fitting film to watch with its spacey themes.
Events lineup
Finally, it was the day of the eclipse on Monday, April 8. While the eclipse did not start until 1:53 p.m., events started at the North Lawn at 11 a.m. Students that came early enough (the first 100 attendees) received mylar blankets and t-shirts. Stickers and viewing glasses were also provided.
Live music from student radio station WWSU 106.9 FM played eclipse-themed beats.
Music Director Jedd Rismiller curated the playlist, playing songs from albums like “Dark Side of the Moon” and the song “Walking on Sunshine.”
According to Rismiller, WWSU assisted the Culture and Identity Centers in interviewing individuals regarding the science and culture behind the eclipse.
Simultaneously, students could grab a meal from one of two food trucks: Clayborne Grille Food Truck Catering and Poppy’s Smokehouse. Free snacks included Moon Pies, Sun Chips, Starry Soda and water.
Near BART, students could register for the “Total(ly) Fun Eclipse Run,” promising a one-mile fun run or walk. The first 50 registrants received a free t-shirt.
Campus Recreation provided equipment for cornhole, spikeball and can jam.
A collaboration between the Astronomy Club and the Physics departments, pinhole viewing boxes and telescopes were open for use during the event.
Brad Kerry is the former president of Astronomy Club and assisted the club during the event prior to the eclipse
“It’s the last one we’re going to see in 44 years, at least over Ohio,” Kerry said.
While the weather was in the comfortable sixties with minimal cloud coverage, students could also watch the NASA livestream in the comfort of the Student Union.
Eclipse and the student experience
It was time to take out those eclipse glasses, the safe and recommended way to watch the eclipse.
The solar eclipse began at 1:53 p.m, only noticeable from the outside when looking at the sun with recommended glasses.
Totality has the largest effect on the outside environment. Most students gathered on the North Lawn to watch.
Totality began on campus at 3:10 p.m., lasting two minutes and 43 seconds. The temperature dropped while the campus outdoor lights turned on, triggered by the sudden darkness. The dark gave the illusion in the sky that there was a “sunset” in all directions, as the moon blocked the sun, becoming a black circle surrounded by a sliver of white light.
Freshman and member of the radio station Ellie Engle stayed on campus during the event.
“It was really cool. It was a little weird seeing it get darker,” Engle said. “But watching the eclipse happen, and then full totality, being able to see the ring, and it was really dark outside, so it was really cool when I’m seeing it with a bunch of other people having the same reaction. It was incredible.”
Sophomore Larkin Smith shared a similar sentiment.
“It was just a very, very cool experience. I am very much a space nerd, so it was a cool experience to witness that,” Smith said.
The next total solar eclipse over Ohio will not be until Sept. 14, 2099.
