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After years of anticipation, total solar eclipse moves over Georgia

ATLANTA — Thousands of people across Georgia were left in awe after the total solar eclipse passed through the state Monday.

We will have LIVE coverage of the eclipse across the southeast on Channel 2 Action News.

After a near-miss because of cloud cover and a roller-coaster of emotions, Rabun County witnessed totality at around 2:35 p.m. Channel 2's Ross Cavitt was there with crowds as they got a glimpse of the spectacle.

The eclipse reached its peak at slightly different times across Georgia.

Earlier in the day, metro Atlanta area drivers prepared for extra traffic, with many using the weekend to get into place.

WSB-TV partnered with the Tellus Museum in Cartersville to hand out thousands of glasses so that people could safely watch the eclipse.

Did you miss it? Watch our special livestream newscast of the total solar eclipse below:

TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE nears Georgia

IT'S TIME! The Total Solar Eclipse is moving across the country and we're ready! #EclipseLive 2wsb.tv/Eclipse2017

Posted by WSB-TV on Monday, August 21, 2017

Severe Weather Team 2 Chief Meteorologist Glenn Burns was in Charleston, South Carolina where he spoke with NASA officials and students ahead of the eclipse.

“I mean the eclipse has been a lot of anticipation built up all summer so thousands of people are here for it and I think it’s going to be really cool,” said College of Charleston student Natalie Rand.

David Dundee, the astronomy program manager at Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville, traveled to Charleston to walk Channel 2 Action News through the stages of the eclipse.

“And this afternoon during the eclipse, the moon will cast a shadow onto the earth and will be perfectly lined up at new moon,” Dundee said.

The eclipse did not disappoint. At different times throughout the day, emotions rang high as crowds witnessed the once in a lifetime event.

“A lot of us, we’ve never seen an eclipse before like I said it’s usually just once in a lifetime, I think a lot of people are excited about it, getting emails get your glasses here,” Rand said.

Crowds. Are. Gathering. We're just a few hours from the Total ...

We're less than one hour from the Total Solar Eclipse in Georgia - and excitement is GROWING! We have a team of reporters, meteorologists and photographers spread out across the country. 2wsb.tv/TotalSolarEclipse

Posted by WSB-TV on Monday, August 21, 2017

WSB-TV is your home for everything Total Solar Eclipse. We’ll have exclusive content and everything you need to know leading up to the big day on Aug. 21!

Then, when the Total Solar Eclipse crosses through the United States, make sure you’re relying on Channel 2 Action News for complete LIVE coverage from across the country!

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