The clouds in the sky marked their clearing as the moon inevitably made its way to face the sun. In moments, as its circumference aligned, the crowd watching roared in excitement upon seeing the moon in total eclipse against the ball of fire. But those few minutes of excitement took months of preparation. 

In the spring of 2023, the Thomsen Observatory began to make arrangements for a rare total solar eclipse that was reported to happen on April 8, 2024. In October of 2023, a partial eclipse served as a practice event that helped the observatory workers prepare for what was to come in April. Anticipating the crowd in April, they ordered 5,000 solar glasses for the public to use, sent their telescopes back to their manufacturers for repair, and contacted the county's head police and fire chief for their estimation of visitors. The Thomsen Observatory Manager, Jerry Becker, shared, "SWAU's various departments met with us for continued planning. The security, maintenance, media, and administration were very supportive and gave wonderful help." 

On the morning of the eclipse, the Thomsen Observatory was a bustling hub of activity as booths were set up and food trucks began preparing to sell their treats, adding to the festive atmosphere. Visitors from around the world, some of whom were armed with their own solar telescopes, flocked to the observatory grounds. The Thomsen Observatory also provided six solar scopes for public use. Mr. Becker shared the exciting news, "Our online advertisements drew visitors from a multitude of countries and states, including the Netherlands, Germany, Mexico, Brazil, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, California, Arizona, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Nebraska, and other states, with many Texans also joining in the celebration." 

In the days leading up to the eclipse, weather reporters shared unfortunate news of overcast skies. However, Mr. Becker recounted the morning of the eclipse delightfully, saying, "A few minutes before the moon edged onto the sun, a large clearing in the clouds opened beautifully, and everyone was able to see the darkness of totality." When the moment of the eclipse happened, it was a sight to behold, with Jupiter and Venus shining in the sky along with a blue twilight as its canvas. The horizon was a perfect orange sunset eerily in every direction. After the eclipse was complete, people began their trips home cheerfully asking one another, "Did you see it?" Every person that morning made a memory that will be cherished and shared for years to come.

The Thomsen Observatory is proud of its unique opportunity to impact the surrounding community. Plans to open its doors to the public continue every first and third Friday night of the month. Looking forward, they plan to open a Messier celestial challenge this fall, receive three more telescopes, and partner with SWAU's science department for astronomical research projects. We might not see another total eclipse in twenty years, but in the meantime, we can anticipate these events, which deepens our understanding of God's incredible creations.