Near-total eclipse draws thousands in Milwaukee to look up
Closest thing to a total eclipse in Southeastern Wisconsin since 1954
Closest thing to a total eclipse in Southeastern Wisconsin since 1954
Closest thing to a total eclipse in Southeastern Wisconsin since 1954
On a day that couldn't have been more perfect, people turned out by the thousands for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's eclipse viewing party near the Union.
"I wasn't expecting this many people," one student said as he stared across an estimated 5,000 people gathered in Spaights Plaza.
The UWM Planetarium organized the event, giving away nearly 4,000 pairs of special viewing glasses before they ran out.
"I don't think you're going to have to go down to Indiana to see this. You're going to see just about the whole thing right here," said Carl Mallmann, a UWM neighbor, as the eclipse neared its maximum coverage viewable in Milwaukee.
As the solar eclipse peaked in Milwaukee at 89% coverage just after 2 p.m., the sunlight was noticeably dimmer, and the air felt cooler, with the sunlight robbed of much of its warmth.
"I am here because this is really a once-in-a-lifetime event for Milwaukee, and looking at the crowds, it's really nice to see the community coming out for something so special as this," said Ericka Cipriano, who lives near campus.
UWM student Jack Koshkin volunteers as a planetarium presenter and helped organize the eclipse viewing party. He assisted hundreds as they lined up to get a look at the sun through their special telescopes.
"I think it's truly something that is worth making the time for. And that's really what this whole operation, in setting this event up has been about, is sharing this moment with as many people as directly as possible," Koshkin said.
He said the partial eclipse made him eager to see a total solar eclipse someday.
"It's on my list, I have to do it in my lifetime, no matter where I have to travel to," Koshkin said.
The 89% coverage is the most the sun was covered in an eclipse in Milwaukee since 1954.
The next one to match that in Milwaukee will be a total eclipse in 2099.
