Solar eclipse brings thousands to UVA grounds

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - With a pair of eclipse glasses and a mission to see the moon pass between the earth and the sun, thousands gathered at the University of Virginia’s South Lawn.

While most people watched from blankets on the grass, one spectator wanted to get closer to the action.

Jack Davidson will tell you he found the best viewpoint on grounds, in a tree.

”I’m really just here to see some interstellar phenomena, you know, only comes around once in a generation. and I’m not very tall,” Davidson said, “I figured the best way to go is up.”

Davidson says, you start to see the world from a different perspective, especially when you think how the moon might be looking down on us.

Keya Gart is a member of the UVA Astronomy Club, which hosted the watch party.

“Here from Charlottesville, we are not on the path of totality,” Gart said, “We’re not going to experience that complete darkness. We will have almost 90% coverage, which is pretty decent.”

According to NASA, the next total solar eclipse to cross North America will be in 2044.

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