The moon’s shadow plunged Mexico’s Pacific coast into complete darkness at 11:07 a.m. local time and swept across the United States before returning to sea over Canada’s Atlantic coast nearly an hour and a half after making landfall.
Celebrations, parties and even mass weddings are planned along the solar eclipse’s “total path,” in which the moon completely blocks the sun for a few minutes – weather permitting. Cloudiness is expected in Texas and the northeastern states of the USA.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, present in the city of Mazatlán, exclaimed “Ah!” as the sun became a crown of fire around the moon. “You can see it without glasses, President,” one of the astronomers encouraged him.
“A total solar eclipse is one of the most moving events one can experience,” said astrophysicist Jane Rigby, lead scientist on NASA’s Webb Project. “Feel your sensations. They are part of the universe,” he added.
This year’s “Path of Totality” is 115 miles wide and encompasses a region home to nearly 32 million Americans. Another 150 million live within 200 miles (320 km) of the strip, and those further away can enjoy a partial solar eclipse or watch an Internet broadcast provided by NASA.
The next total solar eclipse that can be viewed from much of North America will not occur until 2044.
Follow the phenomenon live through the NASA telescope.
SPRING: Text and photos: AFP