In pictures: Total solar eclipse darkens the skies above North America
By Reuters
Monday's photo of a total solar eclipse seen in Mazatlan, Mexico
April 8, 2024. REUTERS/Henry Romero
The first total solar eclipse in North America in seven years was observed on Monday from Mexico to Canada, with millions watching the celestial spectacle visible at least partially across most of the continent.
The Mexican resort town of Mazatlan was the first major observation point on the “path of totality” in North America.
Thousands of people gathered on the boardwalk and set up loungers with solar protection glasses while an orchestra played the theme from the movie Star Wars. The crowd erupted in cheers and applause as the eclipse reached totality.
In places with clear skies, observers in the direct path of the eclipse enjoyed the rare spectacle of the moon appearing as a dark orb sliding in front of the sun, briefly blocking everything except a bright halo of light, or corona, around the sun’s outer edge.
Totality lasted up to 4 and a half minutes depending on the location, and a partial eclipse, in which the moon only obscured part of the sun, was visible across most of the United States.
Lourdes Corro, 43, travelled 10 hours by car to reach Mazatlan. “The last time I saw one was when I was nine years old,” she said. “There are some clouds but we can still see the sun.”
Eclipse enthusiasts gathered at numerous points along the so-called “total route” of the phenomenon.
At the Frontier Town campsite in North Hudson, New York, children ran around wearing eclipse T-shirts, while parents set up tables, chairs and coolers with beers.
Around 32 million people in the United States live within the path of totality, and federal authorities estimated that another 5 million people travelled to be there.
Small rural towns buzzed with activity, such as Advance, Missouri, home to just over 1,300 people, where Tim and Gwen Wurst drove from their home in Kansas City after checking the weather forecasts.
“It’s been on the calendar for years,” said Tim Wurst, 62.
It will take about 80 minutes from the moment the moon begins to cover the sun until the moment of total darkness, and then another 80 minutes to complete the process in reverse.
See images from the event in the gallery below:
An airplane passes near the total solar eclipse during the Hoosier Cosmic Celebration at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana, U.S. April 8, 2024. Bobby Goddin/USA Today Network via REUTERS
A plane passes during a partial solar eclipse seen from Queens, New York, USA. April 8, 2024. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
View of a partial solar eclipse from the New York Hall of Science in the Queens neighbourhood, USA. April 8, 2024. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
A partial solar eclipse is seen from New York City, USA. April 8, 2024. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
A group of people observes the Niagara Falls and the rainbow at Niagara Falls State Park in New York. April 8, 2024. REUTERS/Soren Larson
View of Niagara Falls and a rainbow before the solar eclipse that will take place later in the day, in New York.
April 8, 2024. REUTERS/Soren Larson
Tourists sitting beside the Horseshoe Falls before the Solar Eclipse taking place in parts of the United States and Canada, at Niagara Falls, New York. April 8, 2024. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
Monday’s photo of a total solar eclipse seen in Mazatlan, Mexico
April 8, 2024. REUTERS/Henry Romero
Adrian Plaza, 9 years old, tries on his glasses before a partial solar eclipse, in which the moon will partially cover the sun, at the New York Hall of Science in Queens, USA. April 8, 2024. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
Sophia Moccia, 4 years old, watches a partial solar eclipse with a homemade mask at the New York Hall of Science in the Queens neighborhood, USA. April 8, 2024. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
Some of the 309 people gathered to break the Guinness World Record for the largest group of people dressed as the sun pose on a tourist boat before the total solar eclipse at Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. April 8, 2024. REUTERS/Jenna Zucker
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador wears special protective glasses to observe a total solar eclipse in Mazatlán. April 8, 2024. Mexico Presidency/Handout via REUTERS
A spectator wearing special protective glasses watches a total solar eclipse at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, USA. April 8, 2024. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez
People use special protective glasses to observe a total solar eclipse in Mazatlán, Mexico. April 8, 2024. REUTERS/Henry Romero
People gather to watch a partial solar eclipse, in which the moon will partially cover the sun, in Times Square in New York City, USA. April 8, 2024. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
A person holds a guitar as people gather to watch a partial solar eclipse, in which the moon will partially cover the sun, in Times Square, New York City, USA. April 8, 2024. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
General view of spectators using special protective glasses to observe a total solar eclipse during a practice session at the Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia, USA. April 8, 2024. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Tourists sitting beside the Horseshoe Falls before the Solar Eclipse taking place in parts of the United States and Canada, at Niagara Falls, New York. April 8, 2024. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
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