Amateur astronomer Blake Gaspard assists a third-grade student at DeQuincy Elementary School as he gazes into Gaspard’s Dobsonian telescope to view the solar eclipse Monday afternoon. (Pamela Sleezer/American Press)

Collective gasps of awe and amazement could be heard across the campus at DeQuincy Elementary School Monday afternoon as students were able to get a unique, upclose view of the solar eclipse during its peak hour.

At 1 p.m., amateur astronomer Blake Gaspard offered up his personal Dobsonian reflector telescope to the students so that they could watch as the sun became obscured by the moon from 50 percent to nearly 70 percent over the course of less than an hour.

A partial solar eclipse in Lake Charles on Monday made for some interesting photography. (Rick Hickman/American Press)

Rick Hickman

“It’s just as cool as I thought it would be,” fourth-grader Layla Franks stated as she glanced through the lense.

Sunspots estimated by Gaspard to be roughly the size of the earth appeared multiple times during the viewing, and even a few parents seized the opportunity to take a glimpse.

“This is amazing, and I’m very appreciative to the school for allowing the students this opportunity. I love that they have been able to be a part of it,” parent Caroline Watson stated.

Principal Elizabeth Holder said that Gaspard offered to bring his telescope to the school after alerts were sent out to parents alerting them that students in grades four and up would participate in building their own pinhole eclipse viewers for the event, but that there were some concerns that third-graders might not be able to safely take part.

As the step-parent of a third-grade student, Gaspard approached the school and volunteered his time and equipment so that none of the students would be left out, Holder said.

Gaspard has spent the past 10 years studying and photographing deep space.He said that getting to spend some time teaching students about what he has learned presented ideas for the future.

“I’m working on my house right now and trying to build my own observatory. Once it’s completed, I would be happy to offer it to high schoolers and maybe even middle school students for evening field trips,” he said.