A partial solar eclipse captured the attention of much of western Massachusetts on Monday, with generally clear skies and warm weather.
No part of Massachusetts experienced a total eclipse, but all of western Mass. got about 93% and above at the peak time, just before 3:30 p.m.
A total solar eclipse was visible in northern New England. Officials in Vermont estimated 160,000 visitors to the state for this rare event.
Eclipse-watchers were advised not to look directly at the sun unless they were wearing special eclipse glasses — and regular sunglasses do not count.
'I hope my grandkids are enjoying this'
In Holyoke, Jeriel Rodriguez, Yamari Rodriguez and Vicky Garcia wheeled their office chairs outside to lean back and watch the eclipse. Their employer provided them with glasses and let them take a break to watch the eclipse.
"Since this is my first time, I didn't really have expectations, per se," Jeriel Rodriguez said. "But as the first time me looking at it, as the first time in my 25 years, it's beautiful."
"It's amazing," Yamari Rodriguez said. "I just think it's such a phenomenon that scientists could get it to the actual date, time, where, how. I just absolutely am so intrigued by it."
"Definitely, definitely, definitely — and especially when you're an oldster like me. I hope my grandkids are enjoying this — especially my grandson," Garcia said. "He just loves everything having to do with the world."
'It feels very gentle'
In addition to sidewalk gatherings like this, western Massachusetts residents had their pick of events to mark the occasion — at museums, state parks and libraries.
Outside the Lilly Library in Florence, people gathered on blankets and lawn chairs.
At 2:53 p.m., Anne Rogers looked up, wearing a pair of special eclipse glasses with her dog Odie at her side.
"It looks like it's about — I don't know — like halfway," she said. "And luckily my dog doesn't tend to look up, so he doesn't need his own glasses."
As the moon moved more on top of the sun, Richard Ballon felt a big change.
"The temperature's dropping and the light is almost milky, so maybe we're standing in the milky way," he said with a laugh.
Yoga teacher Safara Fisher was wowed by the experience
"It's incredible!" she said. "It feels very gentle. It's just a gentle experience."
Fisher said she felt grateful and privileged to be there.
The gathering had a festive feel. The library provided moon pies and Mars bars, as well as the special glasses. But some people brought different kinds of devices to look safely at the eclipse.
Marvin Ellin, who teaches science in after-school programs, had three homemade viewers, including one that was 4 feet long.
"Pinhole viewers," he said." The longer the box, the larger the image."
Artist Patricia Myerson held up a colander, which projected multiple images of the eclipse on someone else's shirt.
'Of course, we'll have snacks'
At the Great Falls Discovery Center in Turners Falls, visitors could take a self-guided solar system walk.
"One big step is like 36 inches, which in this walk represents 3.6 million miles. So the walk will be — they'll be a big picture of the sun at the start, and then you follow along to see how far the planets are from the sun," said the Discovery Center's Janel Nockleby.
Even at this scale, Nockleby said, it's a half-mile walk in each direction. The Discovery Center was also offering free eclipse glasses while supplies last.
The Berkshire Athenaeum — Pittsfield's public library — offered up their supply of more than 300 pairs on Friday morning.
"We opened up at 9 a.m., we had a line outside the door, the parking lot was full — and we ran out by 11:30," Youth Services Supervisor Sara Russell-Scholl said.
But Russell-Scholl said they did reserve some glasses for teens coming to the library Monday for a watch-party with a glow-in-the-dark theme.
"We will have black-lights up, and make glow-in-the-dark slime. The kids will have glow sticks. There's some video games, board games and we also have a DJ," she said. "And of course we'll have snacks, because teens love snacks."
The eclipse in western Massachusetts ended shortly after 4:30 p.m.
