Marcia Thomas/Contributing Writer
Despite a cloudy sky that held on for over an hour, the Great Jefferson Eclipse Watch got off to a good start with about 20 watchers who showed up at Jefferson’s Lions Club Park at Noon.
By 1pm the clouds begin to move away and certified eclipse glasses were passed out to those who didn’t have their own along with bagged popcorn, candy, crackers and other goodies that were furnished by the Nutty’s Peanut Butter and the Pop Culture and SocieTea stores in downtown.
Among the watchers were visitors from out of state including Deanna Mitchell of Colorado, and two couples passing through. One was from Michigan and own their way back to that state and the other was from Baton Rouge, La., who came to Jefferson especially to see the once-in-a-lifetime event. A number of children were at the playground and one city policeman came by and stayed for a while to observe.
Theatre president Marcia Thomas greeted as many as she could and passed out the snacks as well as the theatre’s latest brochure and a Discover Book with an invitation to return to the city for more tourist activities in the coming months.
All in all it was a phenomenal occurrence and most of the watchers actually applauded when the vision got the 99 percent covered part and the day darkened slightly with a cold wind that blew through until the moon moved on.
Another total solar eclipse is due in 2026 if your willing to travel overseas. Texas will have a partial lunar eclipse on September 18, 2024, a total lunar eclipse on March 1, 2025. The next total solar eclipse visiable in Texas is Aug. 12, 2045, and the next Texas annular eclipse is Jan. 16, 2056.
Jefferson Rotary Club purchased glasses for all JISD students.