The April 8, 2024, solar eclipse reaches totality over Llano at Grenwelge Park. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey

At a little past 1:30 p.m. on April 8, 2024, the Highland Lakes had a front-row seat to a rare total solar eclipse. The moon swung perfectly between Earth and the sun, creating a series of spectacular cosmic phenomena amid the beautiful Texas Hill Country. It was cloudy in some parts, but that did little to overshadow the awe-inspiring event.

The Highland Lakes area was directly in the eclipse’s “path of totality,” meaning it experienced the longest exposure to total coverage of the sun. Totality clocked in at about four minutes and 20 seconds, depending on how close you were to the eclipse centerline. 

This was just the crescendo of a celestially orchestrated symphony of light and shadow that played out for hours on that day.

PHOTOS FROM THE DAY

Eclipse watchers grabbed a spot at Lakeside Park in Marble Falls. Staff photo by Nathan Bush
John Henry of Minnesota stares at the progressing total solar eclipse on the courthouse lawn in Llano. Henry, and hundreds of others, travelled from near and far to watch the eclipse in Llano, where they were lucky enough to have an unobstructed view of the celestial event despite threatening cloud cover. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
Eclipse watchers of all ages enjoyed the eclipse. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey

dakota@thepicayune.com