A chill crisped the air, a breeze sent evening briskness through the region despite 50+ degree afternoon temps, and people with special viewing glasses watched the moon travel in front of the sun on a beautiful spring day.

At approximately 3:30 p.m., on the warmest day forecasted for the week, Monday, April 8, 2024, the moon blocked all but a sliver of the sun.

As did residents and visitors all along the Midcoast area and the eastern seaboard, people of Rockland who were able to break from work and go outside found benches, lawn space, and other means for enjoying the natural phenomenon, despite not being in the path of totality. Fans of solar astronomy and eclipses began gathering on the front lawn of the Rockland Public Library at approximately 2 p.m., for one of the many viewing parties organized for the event; by 3 p.m., the RPL crowd had swelled in size. 

Reach us at news@penbaypilot.com