"This is a great learning demonstration happening right in the sky," said Three Rivers physicist Dr. Paul Larson. "There is not a lot of opportunities where you can go outside and see something as amazing as this."
Larson hosted a lecture on campus just before the beginning of the solar eclipse to give students and faculty a better understanding of what would be happening and how to observe the phenomenon safely.
"A little sliver of the sun will be left," Larson said. "It will not become totally dark."
The maximum amount of darkness occurred at 1:22 p.m. in Poplar Bluff and lasted about two minutes.
According to Larson, about two or three solar eclipses happen each year, but they don't always occur in the same place.
During a solar eclipse, the moon passes between the earth and sun.
"The last partial solar eclipse in Poplar Bluff was May 10, 1994," said Larson adding the last total solar eclipse was over 500 years ago.
"This is a treat," he said. "It will get fairly dark."
During the two minutes of maximum darkness, Larson said a few things could be expected.
According to his presentation, it may get dark enough to see stars, the temperature will drop, the wind will change directions, daytime animals will start to go to sleep, nighttime animals will come out and the gravitational force of the moon will make you feel 1.7 ounces lighter.
In Oct. 2023, another partial solar eclipse will occur, but Larson said a total solar eclipse will occur six months later in April 2024, and Poplar Bluff will be in the path to experience total darkness.
Larson added scientists will gather information during the eclipse that cannot otherwise be studied, with much of the study concentrating on the sun's corona.
Before heading outside to experience the solar eclipse, Larson went over ways to safely view the eclipse.
"It is not safe to stare directly at the sun anytime during the eclipse," Larson said.
He also added cameras on cellphones work like the human eye and bright light will cause a "burnout" in the back of the camera.
"I want to make sure everyone is safe while viewing the eclipse," Larson said. "This could cause damage to the eyes that you may not notice for a few days."
To assist students with viewing the solar eclipse, Larson provided several pairs of ISO certified viewing glasses and pinhole projectors.
Tabitha Robertson, Samantha Chism and Chastity Berger gathered in the middle of campus to join other students viewing the solar eclipse.
The girls said they had a few issues getting the proper viewing glasses for the event.
"At first, I heard glasses were available everywhere," Robertson said.
Thinking securing a pair of viewing glasses would not be an issue, the girls waited and noticed the only glasses they could find were much more expensive than before.
In luck, Berger's uncle was able to secure proper viewing glasses and the girls were able to be a part of history.
"It's been a long time since this [solar eclipse] has happened," Berger said. "Before I was born."
The three girls also added anything involving the sun and moon interests them.
Cheyenne Long and Madison Copeland thought the solar eclipse brought the school together during an event that has never happened during most student's lifetimes.
"It's neat we are able to be in the center of this event," Long said.