The first total solar eclipse to grace North America in seven years made landfall in Mexico yesterday as millions of skywatchers gazed upward for the start of a celestial display at least partially visible, weather permitting, across most of the continent.
The Mexican beachside resort town of Mazatlan was the first major viewing spot along the ‘path of totality’ in North America. Thousands of people gathered along the coastal promenade, setting themselves up in deck chairs with solar-safe eyewear as an orchestra played the Star Wars movie theme. The crowds burst into cheers and applause and the eclipse reached totality.
Where clear skies prevail, observers along the direct path of the eclipse were being treated to the rare spectacle of the moon appearing as a dark orb creeping in front of the sun, briefly blocking out all but a brilliant halo of light, or corona, around, the sun’s outer edge.
The period of totality, lasting up to 4-1/2 minutes depending the observer’s location, was ushered in by a number of other eerie eclipse effects. A partial eclipse, in which the moon obscures only a portion of the sun, was unfolding across most of the continental US.
At Mazatlan, Lourdes Corro, 43, travelled 10 hours by car to get there.
“The last one I saw was when I was nine-years old,” Corro said. “There are a few clouds but we can still see the sun.”
Eclipse fans are gathering in numerous places along the ‘path of totality’, which stretches from Mexico’s Pacific Coast through Texas and across 14 other US states into Canada.
In upstate New York, at the Frontier Town campground in North Hudson, children ran around wearing eclipse T-shirts, while parents set up tables and chairs.
Connecticut residents Bob and Teresa Love were stretched out in the cargo bed of their pickup truck, eating pastries and hoping the forecast clouds hold off long enough to not obscure the spectacle.
“I’m trying not to get too excited because of weather, just trying to keep expectations real,” said Teresa, 49.
“Some people say it’s life-changing. I don’t know if it’s going to be life-changing, but I think it’s going to be cool to see.”
At up to 4 minutes and 28 seconds, the total eclipse of 2024 surpasses the duration of the one that traversed the US from coast to coast in 2017. That one clocked in at up to 2 minutes and 42 seconds.