Turn around, bright eyes

  • Ms. Westbrook’s 2nd grade class at South Hart Elementary School watching the eclipse.
    Ms. Westbrook’s 2nd grade class at South Hart Elementary School watching the eclipse.
  • Eclipse photo taken by Hartwell resident Jessica Sanders.
    Eclipse photo taken by Hartwell resident Jessica Sanders.
  • Pictured from left is eight-year-old Dalis McDonald and 11-year-old Cashtyn McDonald watching the eclipse in the car rider pick up line at North Hart Elementary School.
    Pictured from left is eight-year-old Dalis McDonald and 11-year-old Cashtyn McDonald watching the eclipse in the car rider pick up line at North Hart Elementary School.
  • Pictured from left is Susan Carroll, her daughter Tora Carroll, and her son Jayce Carroll as Susan works in the Radiology Department at St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens and decided to improvise by using x-ray film as well as trading off glasses with her kids.
    Pictured from left is Susan Carroll, her daughter Tora Carroll, and her son Jayce Carroll as Susan works in the Radiology Department at St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens and decided to improvise by using x-ray film as well as trading off glasses with her kids.
  • The Hart County High School girls golf team stopped in Lavonia on their way to their match against Habersham Central to take in the eclipse. Pictured from left is Emma Shiflet, Bella Thomas, Kylie Osborne, Ashton King, Alissa Eitel, and Savannah McLane.
    The Hart County High School girls golf team stopped in Lavonia on their way to their match against Habersham Central to take in the eclipse. Pictured from left is Emma Shiflet, Bella Thomas, Kylie Osborne, Ashton King, Alissa Eitel, and Savannah McLane.
  • Hartwell native Josie Carter uses her Explore First light 114mm Newtonian Reflector Telescope with Twilight Nano to show where the moon is covering the sun.
    Hartwell native Josie Carter uses her Explore First light 114mm Newtonian Reflector Telescope with Twilight Nano to show where the moon is covering the sun.
  • Hartwell native Ken Medlin propped up his lawn chair to take in the solar eclipse at the Hartwell Dam.
    Hartwell native Ken Medlin propped up his lawn chair to take in the solar eclipse at the Hartwell Dam.
  • Hartwell native Lacey Bailey holds up the glasses for her three-month-old great nephew Wylder Ouzts as he watches his first solar eclipse.
    Hartwell native Lacey Bailey holds up the glasses for her three-month-old great nephew Wylder Ouzts as he watches his first solar eclipse.
  • Residents at Brookdale in Hartwell take in the solar eclipse from their rocking chairs. Pictured from left is Nancy Strong, Phyllis Burton, Doris Ford, Gail Manter, and Ophelia Brown.
    Residents at Brookdale in Hartwell take in the solar eclipse from their rocking chairs. Pictured from left is Nancy Strong, Phyllis Burton, Doris Ford, Gail Manter, and Ophelia Brown.

On Monday afternoon, Hart County residents were provided an opportunity to see a total solar eclipse for the first time since 2017.

The eclipse began around 1:50 p.m. local time, hitting its peak at 3:07 p.m., before ending just after 4:20 p.m.

While the state of Georgia was not within the path to totality, offering the very best eclipse views, many in the surrounding area were treated to a pretty good show as cloudy skies gave way  to an array of sunshine for most of the afternoon.

Experts believe that the next total eclipse won’t take place for another 20 years.

The Hartwell Sun asked readers on Facebook yesterday for their own pictures of the solar eclipse and several of those pictures can be found above or inside The Hartwell Sun on page 6A.