Dozens gather to watch solar eclipse at Morehead Planetarium

Dozens gathered Monday at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center to take in the total solar eclipse, which was partially visible in North Carolina.

People of all ages enjoyed the experience - all looking equally goofy in their eclipse-viewing safety glasses.

David Gahary took the day off work and traveled to Chapel Hill from Hillsborough to hear from the experts at the Morehead Planetarium during the eclipse.

"It's really special to be able to see it with a bunch of other people and feel that excitement," Gahary said. "It'll be cool ... to hear their perspective on it. It's something that's rare and it's a really special moment."

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students Isabel Gray and Layla Niblock were in middle school during the 2017 eclipse. They spoke to WRAL News while waiting in line to get eclipse glasses.

"My family went on a hike to a big rock that had a lookout [in 2017]," Gray recalled. "My dad got lots of on-theme snacks, like moon pies and eclipse gum."

For event organizer Nick Eakes, Monday's celebration was made special surrounded by other curious eyes.

"I think it's something that's so far out of our everyday control that it's almost unifying," said Eakes, a science education specialist at Morehead Planetarium. "You know, people can't change the way the Earth, moon, and sun move around, but we can come together and experience it as a cultural event."

Other people in line shared his excitement.

"The solar eclipse is happening today," said 7-year-old Elliott Crooms, who attended the event as part of his homeschool lesson. "It means that the sun is covered by the moon. I can't wait! I'm gonna be like, jumping for joy!"

The event ran from 12:30 p.m. until 4:45 p.m. The partial eclipse peaked around 3:15 p.m.

The festivities outdoors were free, and a ticket was required for shows and activities inside Morehead Planetarium.

"We're getting an interesting alignment of the Earth, moon, and sun together," Eakes said. "Eclipses happen somewhere on Earth twice a year, but that shadow of the moon passing over your area is much more rare."

North Carolina was not in the path of totality, but the sun was 80% covered by the moon.

"It'll kind of look like a bite is being taken out of the sun," Eakes explained.