Thousands gather across Twin Cities to watch sun go dark

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - Just 20 minutes shy of Monday's solar eclipse in Minnesota, the spectacle was already impressive--bringing thousands to the Minnesota Science Museum.

Some picked up those nearly opaque eclipse glasses you've seen around the internet, others went old school with pinhole projectors, while still more decided to make a fashion statement with their eyewear.

The clouds were intermittent minute-by-minute, though you could hear what the clouds were doing just by listening to the crowd's cheers and jeers. 

Some spent the downtime checking out NASA and other media coverage online, watching as the moon cast its shadow across the continental United States for the first time in a generation.

Then, just as the eclipse hit its peak around 1:07, the clouds scattered, leaving a clear view of one of nature's greatest spectacles. 

It was, many gathered said, perfect timing.