Weather casts shadow on eclipse

vMany are frustrated as optics and effects are dampened in Knoxville

Rain and clouds couldn’t stop the sun, but they certainly made it harder to see on Monday, as Knox County was expecting a moment of darkness as the moon passed between the sun and Earth around 3 p.m. for a solar eclipse. It still happened, though not as intensely as some might have imagined. Rather than going from a bright and sunny day to darkness, Knox County went from overcast to slightly darker. But the phenomenon was still one worth celebrating together, even if only for a moment. Knox News was spread across Knox County to capture the rare sighting, which you can experience through photos.

Schools emptied and so did the skies in Knox County, casting a wet shadow over what was supposed to be a rare viewing of an eclipse on Monday. The phenomenon could barely be seen between the clouds at McFee Park in Farragut using glasses provided here by Rachel Malone. But to use a journalism cliché − only because it applies here more than ever − “rain could not dampen the spirits” of children tossing flying discs (appropriate for an interstellar phenomenon), enjoying themed ice cream and shouting they could see the eclipse ... even when it seemed like they couldn’t. Anyone who has spent time around children knows these moments of excitement are not fibs but, rather, a desire to be part of something bigger than themselves − to share something special with adults in a rare moment everyone can get behind for the same reason, regardless of age. Rain or not, everyone who looked to the skies April 8 were part of something bigger, together. ● ●