Kelsie, Kynslee and Mason Rioux watch the eclipse with Tyler Bachelder Monday at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester. Sydney Richelieu / Lakes Region Weekly
The parking lots and grounds of Pineland Farms in New Gloucester on Monday afternoon were speckled with people with their heads turned to the clear blue sky to view the partial solar eclipse.
From left, Carrie Fortino, Mason Miller, Rick Fortino, and Maghan Miller watch the progression of the eclipse from the back of their vehicle at Pineland Farms. Sydney Richelieu / Lakes Region Weekly
From 2:30 to 3:33 p.m. the spectators witnessed the astronomical phenomenon of the moon covering most of the sun, some for the first time.
Kelsie Rioux and Tyler Bachelder of Turner brought their two children to view their first-ever eclipse. Kynslee Rioux, an elementary school student, said she was “excited” to see it.
“They did a project in school on it today,” her mother said.
Starting about 2 p.m., several families set up their viewing sites in a Pineland parking lot. Sitting in camp chairs or in the beds of pickup trucks, some played games while they waited for the big event, checking often on the positions of the moon and the sun through their special eclipse glasses.
Over the course of an hour, the sky became gradually darker, until the sun was almost fully eclipsed.
Carrie and Rick Fortino of Westbrook brought their daughter Maghan Miller of Windham and her son Gavin Miller to view the eclipse.
Maghan Miller said her son was excited to see his first eclipse.
“I’ve seen an eclipse before, but it’s still cool,” Carrie Fortino told Lakes Region Weekly. “I used to do the shoebox thing as a kid.”
A group watches the solar eclipse as it reaches partial totality in New Gloucester. Sydney Richelieu / The Forecaster
A group watches the eclipse just before partial totality on Monday afternoon. Sydney Richelieu / The Forecaster
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