San Franciscans packed sunglasses, telescopes, snacks, water and blankets this morning with the hope of seeing at least some of the total solar eclipse that passed across North America.
The Bay Area was not in the direct path of the eclipse, but for those who couldn’t travel to places like Texas, Ohio or northern Mexico, there was Bernal Hill. Dozens of residents showed up as early as 10 a.m. to secure a good spot. Excitement abounded.
“It was really interesting and fun for everyone,” said Jane Wiley, 13, who was at the park with her mom around 10 a.m. “I feel like it was a very community-driven [event], which is a great thing for everyone.”
Wiley turned a cereal box into a homemade telescope. The cereal box, which once held toasted rice and wheat flakes with strawberries, allowed her to see part of the eclipse by looking at the reflection of the sun inside. It took her half an hour this morning to complete the piece.
Others brought more sophisticated devices.
Andy Plantenberg set up her Orion Short Tube 80 telescope on the west side of Bernal Hill because she wanted to share the experience and her device with the neighborhood where she has lived for the last 25 years. As many as 40 people stopped to look at the eclipse through her telescope.
“I saw a little family, and I thought it would be really nice if there was a telescope so their kid could look,” she said. “It turned out to be a good spot, because everybody was walking through here.”
She lowered and centered the telescope for three young children who were passing by. “Most people don’t get a chance to see what’s going on up in the heavens and to have that kind of contact.”
Those children, Yoshan, Jamauri and Jaliyah, all agreed that it “felt awesome” and that it was “really cool” to see the eclipse so magnified.
Other attendees also said that this was an opportunity that they did not want to miss. Wes Jang set up his camera on a tripod hoping to capture the eclipse.
“I thought this doesn’t happen too often and I could be dead by the next time I’m able to see one happen,” said Jang.
As for Plantenberg, she said that it made her feel really happy to be able to share her telescope. It would not be as fun to do it all alone, she said.
“It elevates me,” said Plantenberg about the experience of watching the eclipse.
“It takes me out of the day-to-day [to]where spiritual and science meet.”
I miss you, Bernal Hill! We made a pinhole camera here in Chicago and borrowed some eclipse glasses from the neighbors. I love the way people connected with each other over this remarkable event.
When I read the headline “Once in a lifetime” I thought that was taking a short and sad view of the future. Then I read one of the kid’s quotes – Hang in there, Jang – you’ll see more!!