Despite Monday’s cloud cover across Houston, Harris County Department of Education employees made the short walk outside to catch a glimpse of the first solar eclipse visible in the United States since 2017. At the Irvington and Adult Education buildings, employees went to the parking garages for prime viewing spots, each sporting eclipse glasses to protect his or her eyes.

Houston was outside of the path of totality for the eclipse, which included the Hill Country in Central Texas and parts of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, but at the maximum eclipse, 94% of the sun was covered by the moon. The partial eclipse began at approximately 12:20 p.m. and ended at roughly 3 p.m. The total eclipse in Houston was at 1:40 p.m. and lasted just over four minutes.

At the Compton Head Start, students engaged in activities and lessons to prepare for the memorable event. The eclipse was the first to be visible over the United State since Aug. 21, 2017. The next will occur in approximately 20 years.