'A mystical experience': millions watch total solar eclipse sweep across North America
Source: the Guardian
Almost 32 million people in the path of totality as moons shadow crossed the Mexico-Texas border and then traversed 15 states
Richard Luscombe
Mon 8 Apr 2024 17.38 EDT
The ethereal spectacle of a total solar eclipse swept across North America on Monday afternoon, giving tens millions of people in Mexico, the US and Canada the chance to witness a rare and dazzling celestial show.
Almost 32 million people were in the path of totality as the moons shadow crossed the Mexico-Texas border at lunchtime and traversed 15 states over the next hour and a half, although many, especially in the south and midwest, were denied a clear view by low clouds and rain.
Those who did get to experience it were treated to a remarkable and surprisingly emotional display that wont be seen again in the US until 2044. Cities were plunged into sudden darkness, chilled by a precipitous drop in temperature, and felt the stillness of twilight in the middle of the day.
Theres something very mysterious about a total solar eclipse, when literally day turns to night, animals start to behave differently, and we see changes in the Earths atmosphere, Pam Melroy, the deputy head of Nasa, and a retired astronaut who has degrees in astronomy and planetary sciences, told CNN.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/apr/08/total-solar-eclipse-path-map
OAITW r.2.0
(24,610 posts)7 minute full eclipse, no glasses needed. Like night except there was light in almost all directions at the edge. Like a post sunset, but in all directions. And then, just a fraction of the return sun totally illuminates everything....blew my mind.
EarthFirst
(2,904 posts)
so we experienced a bit of a different scenario where we had more of a true nighttime darkness fall over the area.
So while we didnt get to witness the traditional eclipse; it was still pretty wild.
Emile
(22,914 posts)came back I looked away. If I would have had my eclipse glasses on I would have seen it. I never experienced a 100% total eclipse until today. I'll never forget it. Seeing stars and planets in the middle of the day. The Science God was amazing today in Indiana.