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by Gloria Ruth Finney
MACON, Ga. (WGXA) — Even without a solar eclipse overhead, skywatchers in Middle Georgia still found a way to join in the excitement Wednesday — with a little help from science, a big screen and a powerful telescope.
Millions of people around the world looked up Wednesday as the path of totality for the day’s solar eclipse stretched across parts of Europe, including Greenland, Iceland and Spain. Partial phases of the eclipse could be seen from some parts of the northeastern U.S., but Central Georgia was too far south to see any of the eclipse.
RELATED | WATCH: Solar eclipse brings totality to parts of Northern Atlantic region. What the US saw
At the Museum of Arts and Sciences, visitors still had the chance to learn about the rare celestial event and get a close-up look at the sun’s active energy. Several organizations provided live broadcasts of the eclipse, which were shown in the museum’s auditorium. The Middle Georgia Astronomical Society also set up at the museum to provide safe, live views of the sun through the Thompson Solar Telescope, recently donated by Karen Yvette Thompson.

Executive Director Jim Greenhouse explained what’s happening during an eclipse and why only a narrow slice of the planet gets the full show.
“Eclipses happen whenever the moon moves between the Earth and the sun, and basically the moon casts a shadow on the Earth, and that's what causes the eclipse. It just hides parts of the sun. Only people that are directly under that shadow get to see the total part of the eclipse. So, out of the entire surface of the Earth, only people that are in about a hundred-mile-wide strip get to see an eclipse. The width of the strip depends upon how close the moon is to the Earth at the time of the eclipse,” Greenhouse said.
He also emphasized that even on a day when Middle Georgia can’t see an eclipse, sun safety still matters.
“Just remember, even though you can't see any of the eclipse today, it's never safe to look directly at the sun. You always need to have proper eye protection. So those solar glasses that you may remember from 2024, if you were watching the partial eclipse from here, those solar glasses work well,” Greenhouse said.

Inside the museum, sun-related table activities were available in the lobby. The Mark Smith Planetarium also scheduled eclipse-themed programs at 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. explaining what causes eclipses and how they can be viewed. The museum said everything was included with admission.
And while Wednesday’s eclipse wasn’t visible from Central Georgia, Greenhouse said locals have something big to look forward to down the road.
“In 2024, there's actually going to be another eclipse that goes across Georgia on this date in the year 2045,” Greenhouse shared. “So, this is your early, early, early warning to get ready for the eclipse in 2045 that's going to go across Georgia.”
Some people far north in the U.S. and Canada might have been able to catch a sliver of a partial eclipse Wednesday. But the next coast-to-coast total solar eclipse in the U.S. isn’t until 2045 — and Middle Georgia is expected to be in the path of totality, meaning the sky should go dark when the big day arrives.
Coming up in just a few weeks is an 'almost Total Lunar Eclipse'. The upcoming lunar eclipse is expected to be visible in Middle Georgia between the night of Aug. 27 and Aug. 28.
"It will just miss being considered a total eclipse, but 96% of the moon’s surface will be in the Earth's shadow," according to the museum website.
If there are no clouds in front of the moon, the Middle Georgia Astronomical Society will have telescopes available to view the eclipse. Families are encouraged to cozy up in pajamas to enjoy the night sky view, weather permitting.
Stick with WGXA as we keep you ready for what's next.
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