Shining a light in the darkness

ROCHESTER'S MOMENT: Rochester hasn't experienced a total solar eclipse since 1925-and it won't happen again until 2144. (University of Rochester photo / J. Adam Fenster)

Cell phones aimed at the sky, students, faculty, and staff met the total solar eclipse with awe and wonder.

About every 400 years, a specific place on Earth will have the opportunity to bask in the darkness of a total solar eclipse. April 8 was Rochester’s moment. Expecting as many as 500,000 out-of-town visitors, the city hosted several public watch parties, including those at the Rochester Museum and Science Center and Parcel 5 downtown.

On the River Campus, thousands of Rochester students, faculty, and staff flooded the Hajim, Eastman, and Wilson quads to experience the marvel of cosmic happenstance in a festival-like atmosphere. But the only ecliptic interplay that could be seen came in the form of two students in inflatable sun and moon costumes. Clouds concealed all views of the umbra and solar corona.

Nevertheless, the moments leading up to totality were filled with excited “Woos” which eventually gave way to murmurings of awe and wonder.

Photographs by J. Adam Fenster

A bustling crowd on a university campus gathers on a green lawn with a large domed building in the background. Many attendees wear yellow, and some carry inflatable suns. There is also a large telescope in the foreground. The scene is lively and energetic.

A large crowd of people are gathered outside a building with ornate windows. Some people are raising their phones to take photos or videos. The scene appears to be taking place in the evening or at dusk, with a diverse group of individuals present.

A group of eight people, all smiling and posing for a photo outdoors. Most are wearing sunglasses, some with decorative lenses. A building with a green roof and a dome is visible in the background. They appear happy and are dressed in casual winter clothing.

Aerial view of a large park with people gathered on blankets in groups across two main grassy areas divided by pedestrian pathways. The park is surrounded by trees and buildings, with intersecting paths creating symmetrical patterns.

Aerial view of a college campus with students gathered on lawns. The campus features several brick buildings, including one with a prominent dome. Tents and groups of people are visible, suggesting an event. The sky is overcast.

A cityscape at dusk with the skyline illuminated by city lights. The sky is covered with dramatic, dark clouds, with a thin streak of light near the horizon, indicating the setting sun. A river reflects some of the city lights in the foreground.

Two people are walking on a lawn, dressed in inflatable costumes; one as a sun and the other as a planet with a cratered surface. They are smiling, and tents and hammocks are set up in the background under large trees. Other people are lounging in the background.

University of Rochester library is seen at dusk with its windows brightly illuminated. The sky is dark with scattered clouds, and the silhouettes of trees and people are visible in the foreground.

Cell phones aimed at the sky, students, faculty, and staff met the total solar eclipse with awe and wonder.

Photographs by J. Adam Fenster

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