Long Beach didn’t get the eerie darkness of total eclipse that some other areas of the country experienced this morning, but the partial eclipse — still a rare solar phenomenon — was more than enough to draw out crowds.

Observers crowded onto the upper quad at Cal State Long Beach, where the Department of Physics and Astronomy passed out eclipse safety glasses and let people use solar telescopes to get a closer view of the action.

Professor JoJo Eleby sets up a telescope for the viewing of the solar eclipse as Cal State Long Beach’s Department of Physics and Astronomy hosts a viewing event on campus in Long Beach, Monday, April 8, 2024. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.

The eclipse peaked at 11:12 a.m. and lasted a relatively lengthy 4 minutes, 28 seconds, roughly twice as long as the last total solar eclipse visible in North America in 2017.

The last time California was in the path of a total eclipse was in 1923; the next one won’t happen until 2045.

The state was, however, treated to an “annular” eclipse on Oct. 14, 2023, when the moon passes between the Earth and sun but doesn’t completely cover the sun’s disk.

Diego Vargas, a student, looks through special glasses as he looks at the solar eclipse. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Students find a spot on the lawn as they look at the sun through special glasses. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Solar eclipse enthusiasts look at the sun through special glasses at Cal State Long Beach. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Cristina Hernandez, left and Edrianna Vanos, both students, relax on the lawn as they look at the sun during Monday’s eclipse. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.