On Monday, April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse was visible in North America for the first time since 2017. According to the prediction by NASA, the best viewing areas were in Bandera, Fredricksburg, Eagle Pass, Killeen, and Waco at the time of totality expected. Austin was close to the right edge of the path of the eclipse and our city Bastrop was farther, about 40 miles East out of it. On April 8, 2024, we were excited and watched the eclipse from our house, knowing that we would not be able to see the totality. Unfortunately, the weather was cloudy and overcast most of the time, but a few times the clouds opened a little bit, and we were able to see the solar eclipse. At the time of the 95% totality in our area, dark storm clouds covered the sky… I took a few pictures with my telephoto lens equipped with a solar filter from the eclipse and were happy to see as much as we saw.

The next solar eclipse will not be visible in the contiguous U.S. until 2044 according to NASA.