Temperatures dropped about ten degrees and a sheet of darkness covered a nearly-full Appian Way as hundreds of students, faculty, staff and community members gathered to observe the first total solar eclipse visible in North America since 2017.
A total solar eclipse is when the moon passes directly in front of the sun, completely blocking it out for those in the path of totality of the eclipse, according to NASA.
Keene was just outside the path of totality, with the sun receiving about 95% coverage at its peak in the area, according to an interactive solar eclipse map published by NBC Washington.
One hallmark of an eclipse is the presence of solar eclipse glasses.
The reasoning behind the eyewear is to prevent retina damage that can be caused by looking directly at the sun without protection. Though looking at the sun on any day can be harmful, eclipses only make the potential risks more prominent because our pupils dilate, allowing the harmful rays to enter the eye, according to an April 8 NBC Chicago article.
Though solar eclipse glasses quickly ran out during the watch party in anticipation of the eclipse, this did not stop many from viewing the event, as Physics Professor Sarah McGregor offered attendees a chance to see the nearly fully-covered sun with a solar lens-equipped telescope.
Additionally, many attendees passed around glasses to allow others to view it safely.
McGregor said the energy on Appian Way was overwhelmingly positive.
“Everyone was in a really great mood; they were sharing, making crafts, looking through the scopes, taking pictures, I mean, how can you not be excited about this?” McGregor said.
Additionally, McGregor said she was pleased to see attendees following proper precautions.
“It’s important for anybody to experience this … Being able to have this on campus, at least for me, was really important that it happened,” she explained.
Senior Andrew Squatrito said it was his first time viewing an eclipse.
“I was expecting there to be a lot of people, but not this many people,” Squatrito said.
Near the Media Arts Center on Appian, a group of five students sat together in preparation for the event.
Sophomore Evan Parker said he was very excited for the event.
“I have been counting down the days for two months,” Parker said. “For it to happen while we’re in college, at this age, we know it’ll be memorable.”
Sophomore Kayla Turner shared Parker’s sentiment.
“It feels amazing and the weather is so good and I feel truly blessed to be in New Hampshire today,” Turner said.
Junior Caesar Barboa noted the special nature of this eclipse in particular.
“It’s also a new moon so it’s double the energy,” Barboa said.
The eclipse drew in more than just students.
Bert Poirier, senior associate director of admissions, said that more than anything, seeing students come together on Appian was what made the day special.
“Knowing this student body relatively well, I was expecting people to come out and enjoy it together because our students have that sense of community to begin with, but I’m elated at the fact that they are out here and the weather is accommodating, which is great,” Poirier said.
However, not everyone in the KSC community stayed on campus for the eclipse, with some people across the U.S. opting to travel north to places like Burlington, Vt. or Quebec, Canada to see the eclipse in its totality.
Esports Head Coach Noah Drouin said he understands the decision for those who traveled.
“I appreciate people having passion and wanting to get the full experience because nature and science is really cool and some people are really passionate about it,” Drouin said.
Though Drouin, a 2019 KSC alum, said it was good for him to see the campus come together again.
“It’s just really nice to see, I appreciate this a lot,” he said.
Others in athletics also enjoyed being at the event.
Fifth-year and Keene State Men’s Basketball Center Jeff Hunter was one of the athletes present.
“It’s cool to see everybody get together and be a community here; you don’t really see this many people on campus at once,” Hunter said.
Fifth-year and Keene State Men’s Basketball Student Assistant Coach Nicholas Napolitano reflected on the event within the context of his time at the college.
“I’ve definitely been in college these last five years in a unique, different time in the world and I think it’s very cool [with] everything that’s happened … You [only] really see [this] once in a lifetime, I’ll probably be 50 when it happens again on this side of the world and who knows where I’ll be,” Napolitano explained.
Junior Samuel Khumbula described the feeling of when the eclipse reached its peak.
“That was weird, it was not just cold but there was some weird feeling around that, I don’t know,” Khumbula said. “I was just excited by the physics of it, not just seeing it.”
Darrien Waugh, coordinator of Student Diversity, Equity and Belonging, said while he liked seeing the turnout for the eclipse, he would like to see the same energy for other events as well.
“We love seeing students pop out [and] enjoy things, now I need y’all to come out to more stuff like this, y’all getting me mad, I see y’all outside, I need you to come out to these events!” Waugh said.
Waugh, who joined the college in the summer of 2023, said the feeling on Appian enhanced the viewing experience.
“I feel like it just amplifies the feeling, there’s a difference between you looking out your door and seeing the eclipse but compared to coming to a college campus where everybody’s outside and y’all all seeing the eclipse together,” he said.
Nathan Hope can be contacted at
nhope@kscequinox.com
