Dozens flock to Kings Mountain to view 2024 solar eclipse

Chloe Collins, Gaston Gazette
·1 min read
Four-year-old Autumn Joy checks out the eclipse as people gathered to watch Monday afternoon, April 8, 2024, at the Gateway Trail in Kings Mountain.
Four-year-old Autumn Joy checks out the eclipse as people gathered to watch Monday afternoon, April 8, 2024, at the Gateway Trail in Kings Mountain.

Dozens of visitors gathered at the Kings Mountain Gateway Trail Monday afternoon for a chance to see the 2024 solar eclipse.

The Gateway Trail partnered with the Cleveland County Astronomy Society to locate the best spot to set up a large telescope, which was open for visitors to look through near the parking lot.

The eclipse began at 1:45, but reached its peak around 3:15 p.m.

Six-year-old Annabelle Collins gives a thumbs-up to Don Brooks after looking through a telescope at the eclipse as people gathered to watch Monday afternoon, April 8, 2024, at the Gateway Trail in Kings Mountain.
Six-year-old Annabelle Collins gives a thumbs-up to Don Brooks after looking through a telescope at the eclipse as people gathered to watch Monday afternoon, April 8, 2024, at the Gateway Trail in Kings Mountain.

There was concern about cloud cover in the area during the event, according to a previous interview with National Weather Service Meteorologist Doug Outlaw.

Arlene Roberts and others watch as the moon passes between the Earth and the sun Monday afternoon, April 8, 2024, at the Gateway Trail in Kings Mountain.
Arlene Roberts and others watch as the moon passes between the Earth and the sun Monday afternoon, April 8, 2024, at the Gateway Trail in Kings Mountain.

In the interview Outlaw said, "Shelby (and the region) is going to be about 80 to 85%," he said. "It's not going to be anything like in 2017 where we had a total eclipse pass through the area."

Visitors ranged from babies and children to seniors, and came from as far as Gaffney, South Carolina, to view the eclipse.

Karen Grigg, Connie Stowe and Lynn Byrd said they have seen at least two eclipses in their lives

The three recounted creating their own eclipse glasses for eclipses in their youth before today’s safe eclipse viewing glasses were widely available.

Other visitors came to the event to get a pair of viewing glasses which were provided by Albemarle Lithium. For those who missed the eclipse, another partial eclipse will occur in four years, but the next total eclipse will not happen in the Carolinas until 2078, according to Gastonia’s Schiele Museum.

Karen Sotelo looks through a telescope set up by members of the Cleveland County Astronomical Society as people gathered to watch the eclipse Monday afternoon, April 8, 2024, at the Gateway Trail in Kings Mountain.
Karen Sotelo looks through a telescope set up by members of the Cleveland County Astronomical Society as people gathered to watch the eclipse Monday afternoon, April 8, 2024, at the Gateway Trail in Kings Mountain.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Dozens flock to Kings Mountain to view 2024 solar eclipse