Millions awed by total solar aclipse in North America.
Total solar eclipse lasts over 4 minutes in Arkansas.
Tens of thousands gathered in Hot Spring National Park, AR, to witness solar eclipse. Park rangers hung out special eclipse glasses to make sure people are protected.
The enchanting moment: the diamond ring effect. This phenomenon happens as the last glimpse of the Sun vanishes before totality, and again when the Sun re-appears after the eclipse.
During the total eclipse, the sudden darkness caused street lights to illuminate, creating an eerie yet fascinating atmosphere. (Hot Springs, Arkansas)
People gathered in Vermont to witness this event, their eyes fixed on the sky as the moon gradually obscured the sun. (Photo credit: Ryan Gallagher)
Monday, April 8 marked a landmark moment for celestial events on planet Earth as North America witnessed a total solar eclipse. About 12 million Americans experienced totality on August 21, 2017, and this time in 2024, another 31 million joined in this awe-inspiring phenomenon. Many Taiwanese in North America also eagerly participated in tracking the eclipse, traveling to various locations across the continent to witness this rare magnificence.
The path of totality, where the eclipse was visible in its entirety, stretched from Mazatlán, Mexico to Newfoundland, Canada, encompassing 15 U.S. states and covering a population of 44 million. Enthusiasts gathered at National and state parks, city rooftops, and small towns, witnessing the breathtaking darkness as the moon obscured the sun.
Even those outside the totality path witnessed a partial eclipse, with the moon covering the sun into a fiery crescent. The eclipse's journey began with totality in Mazatlán, casting its sparkling beaches into darkness before moving northeast towards Eagle Pass, Texas, marking one of its first appearances in the United States. Beyond that, in states like Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, and Indiana, observers in the totality paths were treated to over 4 minutes of total solar eclipse, a rare and breathtaking sight to behold.
Total solar eclipses occur when the Earth, moon, and sun align perfectly, with the moon blocking the sun's light. This alignment, known as the new moon phase, is rare due to the precise distances involved and the moon's orbital path. While such phenomena are visible somewhere around the world every 11 to 18 months, they typically occur over oceans or remote areas. For any given place on Earth, a total solar eclipse only appears once every 375 years on average. The next total solar eclipse on U.S soil is on March 30, 2033, in Alaska, followed by August 22, 2044, in Montana and the Dakotas. The United States last witnessed a coast-to-coast spectacle in 2017 and will not experience it again until August 12, 2045.
For total solar eclipse enthusiasts, here is a list of upcoming events:
1. Greenland, Iceland, and Northern Spain Eclipse: August 12, 2026.
2. North African Eclipse: August 2, 2027. This eclipse will offer a totality of over six minutes, the longest one left this century.
3. Australia and New Zealand Eclipse: July 22, 2028.
4. Southern Africa and South Australia Eclipse: November 25, 2030.
5. Pacific Ocean Eclipse: November 14, 2031.
6. Alaska and Siberia Eclipse: March 30, 2033.
7. Central Africa and South Asia Eclipse: March 20, 2034.
8. China, North Korea, and Japan Eclipse: September 2, 2035. North of Tokyo will witness the total solar eclipse for almost 2 minutes and 30 seconds.
9. Australia and New Zealand Eclipse: July 13, 2037.
10. Australia and New Zealand Eclipse: December 26, 2038.
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