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Remember the total solar eclipse that happened one year ago today?

Still have your cardboard eclipse glasses? We do.
Jake Hebert (in front), 9, using his protective glasses to watch the solar eclipse along with his sister Jayda Hebert (center), 11, and their cousin Judah Adams (back right), 11, while with their family at St. Petersburg Beach Monday afternoon (08/21/17). "We're skipping school for the eclipse," his mom, Sarah Hebert said. Hebert was with his cousins and brother and sister who are all homeschooled. [DIRK SHADD | Times]
Jake Hebert (in front), 9, using his protective glasses to watch the solar eclipse along with his sister Jayda Hebert (center), 11, and their cousin Judah Adams (back right), 11, while with their family at St. Petersburg Beach Monday afternoon (08/21/17). "We're skipping school for the eclipse," his mom, Sarah Hebert said. Hebert was with his cousins and brother and sister who are all homeschooled. [DIRK SHADD | Times]
By
  • Gabrielle CaliseTampa Bay Times
Published Aug. 21, 2018

One year ago today, kids and adults alike ran outside in the middle of a Monday afternoon, goofy cardboard glasses in hand, to peer up at the sky.

It was the first time the total solar eclipse could been seen across the United States in 99 years. The last time this had happened, Woodrow Wilson was president. For three hours in the afternoon, the moon blocked a little more than 80 percent of the sun.

Around the United States, people fashioned makeshift viewers out of cereal boxes and tried to look at the sun through the cameras on their smartphones. In St. Petersburg, high school students left the classroom to watch from a field. In Tampa, about 5,000 watched live feeds from NASA and gazed through telescopes at MOSI.

Times photographers captured scenes of rubbernecking around the Tampa Bay area on eclipse day.

Left to Right: Preschoolers Paxson Evans, 4, and Ben Tatlebaum, 5, both of St. Petersburg, view the solar eclipse, 8/21/17, through their masks made in Abbie Hahn's class at the school. [SCOTT KEELER | Times]
Left to Right: Preschoolers Paxson Evans, 4, and Ben Tatlebaum, 5, both of St. Petersburg, view the solar eclipse, 8/21/17, through their masks made in Abbie Hahn's class at the school. [SCOTT KEELER | Times]
Keeonia Newkirk, 16, leans out of her shaded beach chair to check out the solar eclipse while visiting St. Petersburg Beach with her siblings and mother. [DIRK SHADD | Times]
Keeonia Newkirk, 16, leans out of her shaded beach chair to check out the solar eclipse while visiting St. Petersburg Beach with her siblings and mother. [DIRK SHADD | Times]
Christian Sullivan, 9, of Tampa, watches the sun during a solar eclipse party on August 21, 2017 at the Museum of Science and Industry, in Tampa, Fla. Tampa experienced a partial eclipse. [MONICA HERNDON | Times]
Christian Sullivan, 9, of Tampa, watches the sun during a solar eclipse party on August 21, 2017 at the Museum of Science and Industry, in Tampa, Fla. Tampa experienced a partial eclipse. [MONICA HERNDON | Times]
Nilufer Mulder and her husband Gerry Mulder, borrow glasses from new friends on the beach as they take a look the solar eclipse while visiting the area from the Netherlands at St. Petersburg Beach Monday afternoon (08/21/17). "We didn't know about this, it was a surprise," Gerry said. "We didn't check the news." Nilufer added, "We are on holiday." [DIRK SHADD | Times ]
Nilufer Mulder and her husband Gerry Mulder, borrow glasses from new friends on the beach as they take a look the solar eclipse while visiting the area from the Netherlands at St. Petersburg Beach Monday afternoon (08/21/17). "We didn't know about this, it was a surprise," Gerry said. "We didn't check the news." Nilufer added, "We are on holiday." [DIRK SHADD | Times ]
High School students at Shorecrest Preparatory School, St. Petersburg, gaze at the solar eclipse with special glasses at Haskell Field, Monday, August 21. The glasses were provided to each student by the school. [SCOTT KEELER | Times]
High School students at Shorecrest Preparatory School, St. Petersburg, gaze at the solar eclipse with special glasses at Haskell Field, Monday, August 21. The glasses were provided to each student by the school. [SCOTT KEELER | Times]
Workers pass out eclipse viewing glasses during a solar eclipse party on August 21, 2017 at the Museum of Science and Industry, in Tampa, Fla. Tampa experienced a partial eclipse. [MONICA HERNDON | Times]
Workers pass out eclipse viewing glasses during a solar eclipse party on August 21, 2017 at the Museum of Science and Industry, in Tampa, Fla. Tampa experienced a partial eclipse. [MONICA HERNDON | Times]
Jayda Hebert, 11, lays in the shallow water as she uses her protective glasses to watch the solar eclipse while visiting the beach with their family at St. Petersburg Beach Monday afternoon (08/21/17). "We're skipping school for the eclipse," her mom, Sarah Hebert said. Hebert was with her cousins and brothers who are all homeschooled. [DIRK SHADD | Times ]
Jayda Hebert, 11, lays in the shallow water as she uses her protective glasses to watch the solar eclipse while visiting the beach with their family at St. Petersburg Beach Monday afternoon (08/21/17). "We're skipping school for the eclipse," her mom, Sarah Hebert said. Hebert was with her cousins and brothers who are all homeschooled. [DIRK SHADD | Times ]
People watch the sun through eclipse viewing glasses during a solar eclipse party on August 21, 2017 at the Museum of Science and Industry, in Tampa, Fla. Tampa experienced a partial eclipse. [MONICA HERNDON | Times]
People watch the sun through eclipse viewing glasses during a solar eclipse party on August 21, 2017 at the Museum of Science and Industry, in Tampa, Fla. Tampa experienced a partial eclipse. [MONICA HERNDON | Times]
Preschool teacher Abbie Hahn, Shorecrest Preparatory School, St. Petersburg, uses a pin hole on paper to fire the solar eclipse, Monday, 8/21/17. [SCOTT KEELER | Times]
Preschool teacher Abbie Hahn, Shorecrest Preparatory School, St. Petersburg, uses a pin hole on paper to fire the solar eclipse, Monday, 8/21/17. [SCOTT KEELER | Times]
Simon Viamonte, 7, watches the sun during a solar eclipse party on August 21, 2017 at the Museum of Science and Industry, in Tampa, Fla. Tampa experienced a partial eclipse. [MONICA HERNDON | Times]
Simon Viamonte, 7, watches the sun during a solar eclipse party on August 21, 2017 at the Museum of Science and Industry, in Tampa, Fla. Tampa experienced a partial eclipse. [MONICA HERNDON | Times]
Katie Adams (left) takes a photo of her mother Sally Smith, as Smith uses her protective glasses to watch the solar eclipse while visiting the beach with their family at St. Petersburg Beach Monday afternoon (08/21/17). In foreground on right is Smith's granddaughter Jayda Hebert, 11. Smith, from St. Pete, was at the beach with two of her daughters and six of her grandchildren. [DIRK SHADD | Times]
Katie Adams (left) takes a photo of her mother Sally Smith, as Smith uses her protective glasses to watch the solar eclipse while visiting the beach with their family at St. Petersburg Beach Monday afternoon (08/21/17). In foreground on right is Smith's granddaughter Jayda Hebert, 11. Smith, from St. Pete, was at the beach with two of her daughters and six of her grandchildren. [DIRK SHADD | Times]
SCOTT KEELER | Times The sun is partially covered by the moon, Monday, 8/21/17, during the solar eclipse seen from Haskell Field, Shorecrest Preparatory School, St. Petersburg. The picture was taken with 600mm lens.
SCOTT KEELER | Times The sun is partially covered by the moon, Monday, 8/21/17, during the solar eclipse seen from Haskell Field, Shorecrest Preparatory School, St. Petersburg. The picture was taken with 600mm lens.
Jayda Hebert (front, center), 11, uses her protective glasses to watch the solar eclipse along with her cousin, Judah Adams (back left), 11, and her brother Jake Hebert (right), 9, while with their family at St. Petersburg Beach Monday afternoon (08/21/17). "We're skipping school for the eclipse," her mom, Sarah Hebert said. Hebert was with her cousins and brothers are all homeschooled. [DIRK SHADD | Times]
Jayda Hebert (front, center), 11, uses her protective glasses to watch the solar eclipse along with her cousin, Judah Adams (back left), 11, and her brother Jake Hebert (right), 9, while with their family at St. Petersburg Beach Monday afternoon (08/21/17). "We're skipping school for the eclipse," her mom, Sarah Hebert said. Hebert was with her cousins and brothers are all homeschooled. [DIRK SHADD | Times]
Aaron Reyes holds his protective glasses while watching the solar eclipse while visiting St. Petersburg Beach Monday afternoon (08/21/17). Reyes and wife Cielo (present but not pictured) are original from Colombia but live in Houston and are in town for a Russian convention in Plant City, he said. [DIRK SHADD | Times]
Aaron Reyes holds his protective glasses while watching the solar eclipse while visiting St. Petersburg Beach Monday afternoon (08/21/17). Reyes and wife Cielo (present but not pictured) are original from Colombia but live in Houston and are in town for a Russian convention in Plant City, he said. [DIRK SHADD | Times]


(center) Sophia Butera, 8, and Kristina Butera, both of Valrico, watch the sun through eclipse viewing glasses during a solar eclipse party on August 21, 2017 at the Museum of Science and Industry, in Tampa, Fla. Tampa experienced a partial eclipse. [MONICA HERNDON | Times]
(center) Sophia Butera, 8, and Kristina Butera, both of Valrico, watch the sun through eclipse viewing glasses during a solar eclipse party on August 21, 2017 at the Museum of Science and Industry, in Tampa, Fla. Tampa experienced a partial eclipse. [MONICA HERNDON | Times]
Up next:Photo story: They learned about lead in schools. Then they took their son for a test.

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