LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Thousands looked to the skies Monday afternoon in Kentucky and Indiana for the "Great American Eclipse." 

WDRB's viewing spot was at the airport in Seymour, Indiana, which was in the path of totality. Hours before the celestial spectacle, the crowds were growing at sites across southern Indiana. 

WDRB's Hannah Strong and Marc Weinberg describe the moments around the peak of the eclipse.

The total solar eclipse lasted just over three minutes and happened at 3:07 p.m. (eastern) in Seymour. The eclipse began at 1:49 p.m. and went until 4:23 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. 

It was promised to be North America’s biggest eclipse crowd ever, thanks to the densely populated path and the lure of more than four minutes of midday darkness in Texas and other choice spots. Almost everyone in North America was guaranteed at least a partial eclipse, weather permitting. 

For Monday's full eclipse, the moon was due to slip right in front of the sun, entirely blocking it. The resulting twilight, with only the sun’s outer atmosphere or corona visible, would be long enough for birds and other animals to fall silent, and for planets, stars and maybe even a comet to pop out.

WDRB meteorologists talk with people who traveled to see the eclipse.

The out-of-sync darkness lasted up to 4 minutes, 28 seconds. That's almost twice as long as it was during the U.S. coast-to-coast eclipse seven years ago because the moon is closer to Earth. It will be another 21 years before the U.S. sees another total solar eclipse on this scale.

The path of totality — approximately 115 miles wide — encompassed several major cities this time, including Dallas; Indianapolis; Cleveland; Buffalo, New York; and Montreal.

An estimated 44 million people live within the track, with a couple hundred million more within 200 miles. Add in all the eclipse chasers, amateur astronomers, scientists and just plain curious, and it’s no wonder the hotels and flights sold out and the roads jammed.

WDRB's Marc Weinberg talked with the organization about the event in Seymour, Indiana.

Thousands of people gathered in Seymour, Indiana, to watch the sky as the moon blocked out the sun. WDRB's Hannah Strong, Marc Weinberg, and Dalton Godbey were there, breaking down what was happening and talking to those who witnessed totality.

"I felt like, like we were so small in the great universe, and I heard you talking and I'm like you, there is a God, and that was really amazing," said one eclipse visitor. "It was, it was. I looked up there and thought, there is so much that has to go right. It has to be perfect, and we just saw it happen. That's not by chance. That's not by chance."

Hundreds watch solar eclipse in Louisville area

While Louisville wasn't in totality for the eclipse, there were still memories made for a lifetime.

While Louisville didn't quite get to totality, Monday afternoon was filled with memories as hundreds of people gathered along the banks of the Ohio River to take in the eclipse from Waterfront Park and the Big Four Bridge. 

People started arriving around 11 a.m. to start getting their spots in place, and many of those who showed up said it was still quite a show. 

"I seen the eclipse in 2017, but I didn't get to see it for its full value so I was like, let me just come here, since UofL was like go, do your thing, and I said OK, great," said Shalai Hampton.

Vendors set up too, to hand out eclipse glasses while songs like "Total Eclipse of the Heart," "Black Hole Sun," and "Walking On Sunshine" blared on the speakers.

In total, about 500 people gathered in lawn chairs and blankets. The majority of those at the waterfront were from Louisville, and most decided at the last minute to check it out locally to avoid traffic heading to and from the path of totality about 50 miles north in Indiana. 

Some local school districts and universities canceled classes so students could enjoy the eclipse.

"The last time I saw it was our freshman year of college, so I don't really remember a lot of it but this time I'll remember it a lot more," said Katrina Powell. "Shout out to Sullivan for letting us out of class today to be able to come see the eclipse."

People also lined the banks of the Ohio River in Clarksville, Indiana, but most of the crowd was at Big Four Lawn. The majority of those watching locally said they can't wait for the next eclipse, which is about 21 years away.

Hundreds travel to Scottsburg, Indiana, to view solar eclipse

The southern Indiana city was perfect for last-minute eclipse viewers.

Scottsburg proved to be the perfect spot for last-minute eclipse viewers on Monday. For one brief minute and six seconds, the sky over the southern Indiana city turned to night. The air was colder and the wind still. 

For Nicole Fuazo, it was nothing short of a magical event.

"It was amazing," Fuazo said. "It was the coolest thing I have ever seen, truly amazing."

Fuazo and her daughter were positioned in an eclipse viewing area set up by the city of Scottsburg. The 20-acre field is just a few hundred yards from Interstate 65, a perfect place for those wanted to see the eclipse, but not drive all day.

"I'm switching from one to other. I'm trying to take pictures," Fuazo said.

Libby Adams and Velda Imel were sporting the latest in WDRB eclipse eyewear and couldn't be more excited to give their new glasses a whirl.

Thousands of people traveled to Indiana to witness the celestial event.

"To get to see this in person, totality, now a lot of people are like it is no big deal, well it is to me," Adams said.

The pair didn't make the trip to western Kentucky for the 2017 eclipse, but this one was too close to miss.

"I said this time I'm gonna do it because I probably wouldn't be around from the next one," Adams said.

At exactly 3:07 p.m., the sunlight was intercepted by the moon and for the next 66 seconds, people in Scottsburg stood in darkness of the eclipse. For a brief moment in time, the glasses came off as the moon was outlined by sun, and just like that, it was over, something Scottsburg, and the people who witnessed it, won't forget.

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