The small town of Fredericksburg, Texas, located in the picturesque Texas hill country, was abuzz with excitement as members of the nonprofit Planetary Society gathered to witness a rare celestial event.
On Monday morning, approximately 600 people had already assembled, enjoying breakfast tacos — a beloved Texas morning tradition. Families engaged in leisurely activities such as playing board games while eagerly anticipating the upcoming solar eclipse.
Children had the opportunity to participate in a creative activity station where they could make bowties to be signed by Bill Nye, the renowned science communicator and CEO of the Planetary Society, who made a grand entrance via helicopter the previous night.
One attendee, Jeremy Bloom, a 64-year-old editor of an environmental website, traveled with his family from New York City to witness the eclipse. Bloom and his wife, Dale, who became eclipse enthusiasts after experiencing the 2017 total solar eclipse in Wyoming, were back with their 6-year-old son, Marlowe, for this event.
Reflecting on their previous eclipse experience, Bloom shared how his wife's initial skepticism transformed into awe upon witnessing the phenomenon firsthand. With their young son in tow, the family eagerly awaited the eclipse, hoping that Marlowe would also be captivated by the celestial spectacle.
