Millions across North America watched as the total solar eclipse occurred, with the sun being covered by the moon before it reappeared as the unique spectacle was completed. There won’t be another coast-to-coast spectacle on the continent until 2045.
Crowds gathered along the country’s Pacific coast, with the trajectory of the eclipse racing toward the US and eastern Canada before ultimately exiting into the Atlantic.
The Mirror's news reporter Jeremiah Hassel was at the Niagara Falls State Park where over 1,000 people gathered to witness the eclipse. He described how, as the total solar eclipse approached, the temperature dropped, and birds began to settle "as if to turn in for the night."
"At exactly 3.20pm EDT, the moon completely covered the sun. In a matter of seconds, the sky darkened, and night fell over the park as buildings on the Canadian side began to light up. It was as if dusk had fallen early.
"The crowd oohed and ahhed, clapping and cheering as the eclipse occurred. For a few moments, things were still as a mesmerised crowd observed the rare celestial phenomenon.
"Then it was as if the sun was rising again - rays of sunshine spilled through the clouds that still covered the skies above the park, and light returned to the area as people cheered once again. The eclipse was over."
Follow along for live updates of the event.
All the celestial events to look forward to in 2024
Meteor showers
Lyrids meteor shower , will be active from April 15-29 with the peak happening start late evening April 21 into April 22. It is a medium strength shower that can produce a number of meteors including some fireballs. But for 2024, the moon may make it difficult to see this light show.
Eta Aquariids meteor shower , also starts on April 15, but it won't be until May for peak viewing. The best mornings to watch are May 5 and 6, in the hours before dawn. And it puts on quite a show in the southern part of the U.S. Viewers could see 10 to 20 meteors per hour under a dark sky, with no moon.
Perseid meteor shower will rain shooting stars, while star gazers can also look forward to a partial lunar eclipse in September and an annular solar eclipse in October.
According to Space.com, the next lunar eclipse with be a partial one on Sept. 17.
Here are key dates when the moon enters some notable phases:
- May 23, Flower Moon
- June 21, Strawberry Moon
- July 21 Buck Moon
- Aug. 19, Sturgeon Moon
- Sept. 17, Harvest Moon
- Oct. 17, Hunter's Moon
- Nov. 15, Beaver Moon
- Dec. 15, Cold Moon
Read the full story here: All the celestial events to look forward to in 2024 after 'majestic' solar eclipse across US
'Eclipse sickness' is causing 'weird' feelings, headaches and insomnia
Parts of the country will be plunged into darkness on Monday as a solar eclipse blocks out the Sun and some social media users have reported "weird feelings" they believe could be down to so-called "eclipse sickness" from the upcoming celestial event.
The rare phenomenon happens when the Moon lines up between the Earth and the Sun blocking out the light for a few moments and it's expected that tens of millions of people will be covered by the area of complete totality, with many others experiencing the eclipse in some shape or form.
While the eclipse is only expected to last a few minutes, some people are already reporting feeling strange about the unusual event.
Humans have been watching total eclipses since the dawn of written history and while they used to be viewed with much suspicion, in modern times for the most part it is seen as something to be marvelled at instead of feared. However, there are still some people who view the eclipse with unease and users have been taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, to describe some strange symptoms.
Read the full story here: 'Eclipse sickness' is causing 'weird' feelings, headaches and insomnia, social media users claim
Donald Trump bizarrely likens himself to solar eclipse
Donald Trump has thrown the internet into a frenzy with a peculiar new campaign video.
In this visual, he metaphorically steps into the role of a total solar eclipse sweeping across North America, blocking out the sun with his head. "The Great American Eclipse" will grace the skies of Mexico, United States, and Canada on Monday afternoon.
This rare celestial event, wherein the moon passes between the sun and Earth resulting in a brief period of near-darkness, will not recur in North America until 2044, as per NASA's data. The last time such an extraordinary phenomenon occurred on August 21, 2017, Trump stood tall on the White House's Truman Balcony, presiding over the country as the US President. To see the video, click here.
Read the full story here: Donald Trump bizarrely likens himself to solar eclipse declaring event 'greatest day in history'
NASA says when next solar eclipse will occur
Prior to this afternoon's eclipse, NASA scientists advised people across North America to take advantage of this rare event as the continent's next total solar eclipse won't occur until 2044.
Those who missed the last major celestial event in the US, occurring in 2017, waited about seven years to to witness today's spectacle in the sky. Those who may have missed it will now have to wait two decades another total solar eclipse to grace the US. Viewers who traveled and/or rented out an expensive AirBnB within the path of totality saw the Moon completely cover the sun, casting darkness over certain cities for more than four minutes.
"A total solar eclipse is one of the most spectacular things anyone can see in their lifetime," Virginia Tech astrophysicist Nahum Arav said. The eclipse "looks like a black hole in the sky." Nahum watched the paths of totality of eclipses in 1991 and 2017.
Read more here: Another solar eclipse won't happen in North America for 20 years, say NASA scientists
NASA images reveal what a solar eclipse looks like on Mars
While Earth is the only rocky planet that has total eclipses, other planets do have partial eclipses and NASA has shared incredible images revealing what one looks like on Mars. The photos were captured in 2022 when the NASA Perseverance rover’s Mastcam-Z camera system shot a video of Phobos, one of Mars’ two moons, eclipsing the Sun.
It marked the highest-resolution observation of a Phobos solar eclipse ever taken. In February, the Perseverance rover, which landed on the planet in 2021, took photos showing Mars’ tiny moon Phobos crossing in front of the much larger sun after Mars' other moon, Deimos, completed a transit in January.
The photos were taken from Mars’ Jezero Crater, where the Perseverance rover took photos before NASA engineers uploaded the never-before-seen images for the public to view. Last week NASA shared timelapses of the past eclipses on Mars in anticipation of today’s solar eclipse.
While not everyone experienced the full spectacle, a large portion of North America had a chance to catch at least a partial eclipse. The eclipse started on the Pacific coast at around 11.07 am Pacific Time before it hit Texas, trailed through Oklahoma and on to Tennessee and Ohio before it was visible in Maine. It finished its journey at 5.16pm local time on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland.
Read more here:Incredible NASA images reveal what a solar eclipse looks like on Mars
Rewatch the total solar eclipse
Incredible footage documents the moment the Moon covered the Sun before revealing it again, creating a unique sight. Rewatch here:
Spiritual sentiments left behind
The Sun, the Moon and the clouds gave an extraordinary performance today and made for inspirational, atmospheric photographs.
In this NASA handout picture, the Moon is seen passing in front of the Sun, with the top of the Washington Monument in silhouette, during the partial solar eclipse seen from Washington.
A bird was captured flying right as the Moon crossed in front of the Sun in this beautiful image taken from in Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada. When the land plunged into darkness, birds were seen settling as if they were turning in for the night.
And religious groups saw the total solar eclipse as an opportunity to spread "God's word", with leaflets being handed out at places where spectators gathered. In this photograph, clouds parted as the sight unfolded atop the New Sweden Evangelical Lutheran Church steeple in Manor, Texas.
Amusing moments from the viewing
Spectators share their awe after the eclipse
The sun reappeared from behind the moon as the total solar eclipse leaves North America. There won’t be another coast-to-coast spectacle on the continent until 2045.
Viewers shared the feelings that the unique celestial event has left them with - and it's nothing short of euphoria. One woman, Sandra, travelled from Bethesda, Maryland to Buffalo for a passport appointment, which coincidentally allowed her to see the eclipse from the magnificent Niagara Falls.
She told The Mirror: "It was amazing. I love it. Anything like it. And I just thought it was a once in a lifetime experience and I was just very happy to come here. I really enjoyed being here - it was really fun. It was really a nice family atmosphere. I wish my family was with me."
Asked if the experience is memorable, she declared: "Absolutely. Just to witness the day going into night and then being able to see the sun and the eclipse phases, everything, you know, the news coverage has been phenomenal. They've been teaching us all about the eclipses. I didn't know much about it, but I learned quite a lot of media and it was just incredible."
Joe Biden spotted with eclipse glasses
US President Joe Biden was seen holding special eclipse-viewing glasses at Dane County Regional Airport in Madison, Wisconsin.
Satisfied tourists leave Niagara Falls
Celebrities share their take on the eclipse
Reese Witherspoon, the Big Little Lies star, expressed her excitement for the eclipse, exclaiming, "I'm ready," while flaunting her glamorous attire in a turquoise fuzzy coat and sun-blocking glasses.
Jessica Biel, known for her role in The Sinner, urged her followers to step outside with their glasses, emphasizing, "If you have your glasses… get outside now!!"
Kelly Osbourne, donning a chic leopard print top and capri leggings, posed by her swimming pool with partner Sid Wilson, encouraging eclipse viewing. Irina Shayk, model and partner of Tom Brady, shared her anticipation by showcasing her eclipse glasses and even placed them on her black dog.
Jessica Alba reflected deeply on the significance of the eclipse, highlighting themes of new beginnings and letting go to move into one's power and soul's purpose. She wrote: "Eclipses are all about new beginnings but this one has such an element of closure - about letting go so you can walk through a new portal and move into your power."
Maria Menounos simply shared her enthusiasm with a peace sign gesture. and Beverley Mitchell, thanking Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams for the glasses, excitedly announced, "It’s Eclipse time!"
Crowds mesmerised by the spectacle at Niagara Falls
The Mirror's Jeremiah Hassel described how he witnessed the unique phenomenon among hundreds of other spectators at the Niagara Falls State Park.
As totality approached, the temperature noticeably dropped as the amount of sunlight decreased. Seagulls and geese that had been circling around the falls started landing as if to turn in for the night.
But the main event was yet to come. At exactly 3.20pm EDT, the moon completely covered the sun.
In a matter of seconds, the sky darkened, and night fell over the park as buildings on the Canadian side began to light up. It was as if dusk had fallen early. The crowd oohed and ahhed, clapping and cheering as the eclipse occurred.
For a few moments, things were still as a mesmerised crowd observed the rare celestial phenomenon. Then it was as if the sun was rising again - rays of sunshine spilled through the clouds that still covered the skies above the park, and light returned to the area as people cheered once again. The eclipse was over.
Totality arrives in cloudy sky for spectators in Texas
Darkness has blanketed Mexico
Beaches have plunged into darkness as the eclipse reached its peak in Mexico. But the faces of hundreds of onlookers were lit up by the screens of their cellphones as they attempted to capture the rare event that lasted slightly over 4 minutes.
The silhouette of palm trees against a faint glow near the horizon resembled the famous sunsets of the resort, albeit occurring before noon. Karen Ibarra, a researcher from Colombia working at Mexico’s National Autonomous University, said: "Seeing the corona is the best."
Getting cold and dark at Niagara Falls as totality nears
The Mirror's Jeremiah Hassel says: "We're now just over five minutes from totality here at Niagara Falls State Park and the sky has turned a rather eerie shade of grey. There's still a lot of cloud cover but people are still excited for the main event."
'Ring of fire' slowly appearing above Texas
The 'Ring of Fire' is slowly being shaped for viewers in Texas, as seen in spectacular pictures.
Elaborate costumes with Rocket Man about to 'fly above Niagara Falls'
As the total solar eclipse unfolds over Niagara Falls State Park, The Mirror's news reporter Jeremiah Hassel catches up with a group of enthusiastic spectators who've donned elaborate costumes representing the Earth, Moon, Sun, and a Rocket Man.
"She had the idea to dress up, as you can tell. She's the ringleader," one of the group members responds, pointing towards another with a grin. "I know there's a lot of clouds, if we have to, I'll be jumping over the falls at 4:17 Eastern time," the Rocket Man joked.
The group shared their optimism despite the cloudy weather. "But we're having fun, and the smiles we put on people's faces have been priceless," one of the group members said.
A break in the clouds allows a glimpse at Niagara Falls
The eclipse has started for viewers at the Niagara Falls State Park, and people have put on their special eclipse glasses. A break in the cloudy sky allows for a glimpse at the unique spectacle.
Sun is now slowly revealed from behind the Moon in skies above Mexico
Eclipse now visible from Indiana
Early stages of a total solar eclipse shows the moon crossing in front of the sun in Bloomington, Indiana.
Stunning images of the solar eclipse halo
The solar eclipse has peaked with an impressive halo shining in the sky above Mexico.
Clouds disappoint viewers at Niagara Falls but hope still stands
Brian and Mary Sandifer travelled over seven hours to see the eclipse at Niagara Falls State Park, but as the main event is less than an hour and a half away, they’re having mixed feelings.
They’re feeling “excitement and a little disappointment” because of the overcast weather, which has persisted throughout the day. But the Sandifers are still holding out hope that they’ll be able to catch even a glimpse of the once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon.
“We’re just looking forward to how everything is supposed to get dark like nightfall. I think that’ll be pretty exciting,” Brian said. “It’s fun. It’s exciting. There are a lot of people gathered around, and so we’re excited.”
“Even if we don’t get to see the whole total eclipse, we’ll have gotten to see Niagara Falls, and it’s beautiful,” Mary concluded.
Cheers as the clouds clear up above Texas
City officials in Texas were delighted as the clouds cleared, allowing the sun to shine through during an early afternoon eclipse event. Beverly Abell, the downtown development manager, joked: "We special ordered the sun this morning."
Hundreds gathered at Front Street Station for an outdoor watch party, using eclipse glasses to observe the moon taking a bite out of the sun. Despite occasional clouds at the Fort Worth Zoo, visitors paused along the paths to witness the eclipse.
Todd Beeby, who travelled from Houston with friends, noted: "It’s kind of neat to see it roll in and out."
Viewers claim their spots at Niagara Falls State Park
For people gathered at the Niagara Falls State Park, the start of the eclipse is now just 10 minutes away with totality expected in just an hour and a half. The park is filling up fast with at least 1000 people, The Mirror's Jeremiah Hassel says.
Tourists are rushing to claim their spots, stealing the coveted spots on the rocks around the park as they hope to get the best view of the eclipse when it happens.
Crowds gather at the Niagara Falls State Park
The Niagara Falls State Park offers the opportunity for a great view of the total solar eclipse. That's why over 1,000 people have gathered at the park, equipped with the necessary glasses to safely view the rare celestial event.
Cheers in Mexico as the Moon begins passing over the Sun
Cheers broke out along the beach in this resort city as the moon began to pass over the sun. Hundreds in a beachside park had passed the waiting time by readying their equipment and listening to a youth orchestra play Star Wars songs while a large screen projected images of Princess Leia behind them.
Luz Elena Aguillón de la O sat in the grass with a group of 14 family and friends who had gathered from Mexico City, Guanajuato and right here in Mazatlan to take in the spectacle. “Happy to be here with family, friends sharing a singular, unrepeatable event that the universe and nature give us,” she said.
Mira las primeras imágenes del #eclipse solar total, el evento astronómico del año que está despertando la atención de todo el mundo.
— CNN en Español (@CNNEE) April 8, 2024
Sigue la transmisión en vivo aquí: https://t.co/NFV97IsX39 pic.twitter.com/UPDDtJXLt7
Joe Biden encourages Americans to wear eye protection
President Joe Biden posted a brief video on X to encourage Americans to wear eye protection when viewing the eclipse – in a subtle dig at his predecessor and 2024 rival, former President Donald Trump.
“Folks, enjoy the eclipse, but play it safe, don’t be silly,” Biden said in a video showing him donning eclipse glasses and looking skyward from the balcony outside the Blue Room of the White House.
That’s the spot where Trump glanced up toward the sun without eye protection in 2017. Biden is traveling to Wisconsin, which, like Washington, will experience a partial eclipse on Monday. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said she had no details to share on whether Biden would view the phenomenon.
An eclipse is worth marveling at.
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 8, 2024
But don't be silly, folks – play it safe and wear protective eyewear. pic.twitter.com/S6REAiZ735
People set up solar eclipse camps with telescopes and cameras at Stonehenge II ahead of totality
Across the US, people are gathering along the path of totality to try and get the best view of the total solar eclipse.
Huge crowds have gathered along the predicted path, from Texas to Maine, to try and secure the best spot for the eclipse today. Some have spent hours securing their coveted spots, with people pitching up with camping chairs and tents as they settle in to wait for the huge event.
In the small town of Ingram, Texas, people have driven for hours to catch a glimpse as the Moon completely blocks out the sun, setting up tents or even mobile homes along the river bank to try and see the spectacle. The river runs alongside Stonehenge II, a park featuring a replica of the mysterious monument that calls England home.
Eclipse could be a 'message from God', religious groups warn
As anticipation builds up across North America, some religious groups are seeing the celestial event as an opportunity, linking it to spiritual beliefs.
The Mirror's Jeremiah Hassel reporting from Niagara Falls State Park, where about 500 people have already gathered to witness the eclipse, is seeing lots of religious people having set up booths around the park, offering free Bible courses, and others are walking around, handing out booklets explaining the dire warning they believe the eclipse is sending — a message from God himself.
Here are some pics of a leaflet that is being handed out to visitors: