Bay Area awed by rare solar eclipse [Video]

For millions of Americans, Monday’s solar eclipse was the celestial event of their lives.

The Exploratorium in San Francisco, typically closed on Mondays, welcomed eclipse enthusiasts with open doors. Experts stood by to field visitors’ inquiries about the rare phenomenon.

“You maybe have a chance of two per year with the way the alignment works out geometrically, and then that event needs to happen where people live,” explained Ken Finn, a science educator at the Exploratorium.

The reactions transcended mere amazement.

“I would hope, and I believe that it would really trigger an exploration of outside your own little world; that there is hope and goodness and beauty and awe in the world,” said Sunny Schwartz of San Francisco.

Shirley Moore added, “I want to actually experience this; this is a bucket list (item) and then with the next ellipse, I don’t think I’ll be around.”

For Matt Gan of San Francisco, the eclipse symbolized a new beginning.”It feels like it’s a transformation,” he …