Nearly 1,000 people visited the Kopernik Observatory in Vestal, in Broome County, on Monday to watch the solar eclipse in near-totality with a NASA-level telescope that allowed them to safely glance at the sun while the moon briefly overtook it. 

When New Yorkers want to learn about space and celestial events, they often head to a musuem or observatory. For many, the Kopernik Observatory was the destination in the Southern Tier to get a unique view of the eclipse.

While cloud cover blocked some of the views, the sky was visible for a short time as visitors, young and old, watched closely.

"It's always great," said Drew Deskur, executive director of the Kopernik Observatory. "Normally on a weekday, it's pretty quiet up here, but not today. It's a great opportunity for us to do what we do best, which is really outreach, science and technology engineering and math."

Prior to the event, observatory staff reached more than 7,000 students in the area with information and safety tips about the eclipse, Deskur said.

The facility's six-inch refracting telescope allows visitors to get a safe, close look at the sun thanks to a device called a Herschel wedge filter, which removes about 96% of the light, Deskur explained.

"People were able to see how the moon was biting into the sun while they were, as it was happening," he said.

It was a great learning oppurtunity for visiting families.

"I think the best part, we're a homeschool family, so it's really cool to have the whole day just to do our own thing with our schooling and to experience space in a really real way for them," said Kariah Manwaring, a resident of Binghamton.

It was an experience some said they’ll never forget.

"It's so cool, especially my 6-year-old, just, it seems like such a hard thing to conceptualize," Manwaring said. "So to see it right in front of her face through the little glasses makes it very exciting.”

Kopernik is one of the few public observatories in the state, giving guests a rare and unique way to experience space.

"It's wonderful," said John Pollack, of Vestal. "It's a great facility here, Kopernik. We love it. We're just a couple miles down the road.”

“This is a beautiful facility," Susan Pollack said. "We've been up here for any number of events, and absolutely love it."

The observatory, which turned 50 this year, charged $5 for admission, and all money raised will support summer programs and future events.

Deskur said the eclipse provided a teachable moment that was great for outreach, and he hopes it inspired some students to consider STEM careers.