Total solar eclipse mesmerizes America
Updated | By AFP
Sky-gazers stood transfixed across North America as the Sun vanished behind the Moon in a rare total eclipse that swept the continent coast-to-coast for the first time in nearly a century.
Millions of die-hard eclipse chasers and amateur star watchers alike converged in cities along the path of totality, a 70-mile (113-kilometer) wide swath cutting through 14 US states, where the Moon briefly blocked out all light from the Sun.
"It was incredibly beautiful. I am moved to tears," said Heather Riser, a 54-year-old librarian from Virginia, sitting on a blanket in Charleston's grassy Waterfront Park where thousands had gathered to watch.
Festivals, rooftop parties, weddings, camping trips and astronomy meet-ups were held nationwide for what was likely most heavily photographed and documented eclipse in modern times, thanks to the era of social media.
The blackest part of the shadow, known as totality because the Moon blocks all the Sun's light from the Earth, began over Lincoln Beach, Oregon at 1716 GMT.
Crowds cheered at the first sign of darkness.
This is what shadows look like during a partial eclipse. These are the shadows of individual leaves from a nearby tree last #SolarEclipse pic.twitter.com/iLS6UhdpZd
— abdul 🚀 (@Advil) August 21, 2017
Just inland, more than 100,000 people gathered at Madras, Oregon - typically a town of 7,000 - in what experts described as perfect viewing conditions.
"I've wanted to see one of these my whole life, since I've been studying astronomy, since I was a kid," said Christine Sapio, a science professor. "I thought I was prepared for it - I totally wasn't."
In Los Angeles, "oohs and aahs" emanated from the crowd of thousands gathered at the Griffith Observatory in the hills above the city as the partial eclipse began.
Many had hiked to avoid massive traffic jams. Some watchers had fashioned their own pinhole projectors out of cardboard and scotch tape. Others watched while wearing special, dark solar eclipse glasses.
Voila! The #Eclipse2017 shadow from @Space_Station, no words needed // Voilà! L'eclisse vista dalla Stazione Spaziale, non servono parole... pic.twitter.com/7kD5AYb5zj
— Paolo Nespoli (@astro_paolo) August 21, 2017
'Just awesome'
In downtown Charleston, South Carolina, the last point in the path of totality, crowds of tourists - some in special eclipse T-shirts and star-printed trousers - staked out prime spots on the bustling city's storied waterfront.
Forecasts of thunderstorms threatened to block the view, but the eclipse managed to peek through the wispy clouds.
Onlookers in Waterfront Park screamed and cheered as the sky went dark in the middle of the afternoon, streetlamps came on, and a rumble of thunder could be heard in the distance.
Cloudy weather and thunderstorms dashed viewers' hopes of seeing the eclipse in some places, including Missouri.
Some of the clearest views were along the West Coast.
Experiencing the #GreatAmericanEclipse from 35,000 feet was #TotalityAwesome. We know, we know, pics or it didn't happen. #SolarEclipse2017 pic.twitter.com/EM4LFgwFyW
— Alaska Airlines (@AlaskaAir) August 21, 2017
'Don't look'
In the US capital, where 81 percent totality occurred, Donald Trump watched the partial eclipse from the White House with his wife Melania and son Barron - although the president appeared to have missed the memo on eclipse do's and don'ts.
At one point, Trump glanced skyward without protective eyewear - a big no-no, according to experts. "Don't look," an aide shouted to him. He later donned glasses.
Eclipse watchers also flocked to Washington's National Air and Space Museum, where solar telescopes were set up for the occasion.
In Mexico, where there was a partial eclipse, astronomy buffs set up telescopes fitted with special sun filters in parks and squares in various cities.
POTUS asked how the view of #Eclipse2017 gave reporters a thumbs up, twice. Was asked again what he thinks- mouthed "beautiful" pic.twitter.com/W16LCnoCzz
— Noah Gray (@NoahGrayCNN) August 21, 2017
Eclipse watchers often describe being overcome by emotion as the sky goes black, birds return to their nests and the air chills.
"It is such an incredible, sensory-overload kind of event," eclipse-chaser Fred Espenak, a retired NASA astrophysicist, told AFP of the first total solar eclipse he saw in the United States back in 1970.
Scientists planned to study the eclipse to learn more about the super-hot corona, or outer atmosphere of the Sun.
"It is really exciting to see so many people interested in nature and science and this amazing phenomenon," said Kwayera Davis, an adjunct professor of astronomy at the College of Charleston.
It's the moon, sunspots AND the station in front of the sun. @NASA photographer captures station transiting sun during #Eclipse2017 pic.twitter.com/hAVRINz0bv
— Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) August 21, 2017
Four generations of family taking in the partial eclipse today. Already looking forward to the next one in Texas in 2024! pic.twitter.com/3iSPh9iydA
— George Bush (@GeorgeHWBush) August 21, 2017
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