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AUSTIN, Texas - The highly anticipated 2017 Eclipse has come and gone. For many it was their first time experiencing the phenomenon. FOX 7 got their reaction.
Wooldridge Park in Downtown Austin was temporarily converted into an observatory thanks to eclipse enthusiast Steve Schwolert. He made a number of viewing devices and set them up on the lawn. Jose Flores could not pass up the opportunity to get a look.
"Sure enough each way worked well,” he said.
More and more people showed up as a crescent started to take SHAPE.
"That's what I was hoping for. People would see me out here doing this and get curious and come over and check it out. So yeah, it's pretty exciting,” said Schwolert.
The only thing Schwolert didn't have were glasses. We were able to help him out with that.
"Oh my God! Oh my God! That's awesome,” he said as he viewed the eclipse.
"I can't believe I'm seeing that. You see like right on it,” said Flores.
On the Westlake High School campus there were hundreds of first timers.
"Wait. What? I'm not kidding. It's so cool! It's my first time looking at it,” said Westlake HS Senior Julia Flowers.
"It looks like someone was eating a big piece of cheese. They ate the cheese. It's a U shape like this. That's pretty cool,” said Westlake High School Senior Matteo Brunel.
The faculty made a back to school viewing party out of the event. Astronomy teacher Bob Murphy brought out two telescopes for a better look.
"The kids coming up going ‘wow’ one after the other. That was cool,” said Murphy. "To look up and see the total going on in Oregon and we're seeing it live here as a partial. It's fun."
The sight seemed to turn everyone into a kid again. Flores is excited for the day he can tell his about it,
"Viewing that is something else. I never thought I'd see something like that in my life time. I'll be able to tell my kids when I have them I've seen an eclipse before," said Flores.
Did you find yourself getting jealous of those in the path of totality? Next time, it's our turn. In 2024 we will see a full eclipse. So you may want to hold onto your glasses.