The moon completely blocked out the sun on Monday in the US as millions of people experienced the first coast-to-coast total solar eclipse after a century.
The moon’s shadow raced across the United States, from Oregon to South Carolina. The path of this shadow, known as the path of totality, is where observers saw the moon completely covering the sun.
Look at the path here:
LIVE NOW: Join us from around the country as #SolarEclipse2017 occurs across America: https://t.co/Wbaid2DrfL Questions? Use #Eclipse2017 pic.twitter.com/KkGtES1MD7
— NASA (@NASA) 21 August 2017
In case you don’t know, total solar eclipses occur when the New Moon comes between the Sun and Earth, and it casts the darkest part of its shadow, the umbra, on Earth.
Here is how the solar eclipse progressed:
Initially, a partial eclipse was seen in Northern Cascades National Park in Washington State.
During the partial eclipse, people captured the crescent-shaped shadows.
Today, the Moon blocked the Sun…but it didn’t block your cameras. Check out a few #SolarEclipse2017 images: https://t.co/eYKB2XWmcY pic.twitter.com/ZQMo8QvmSn
— NASA (@NASA) 21 August 2017
Then, the spectacular moment came when the moon hid the sun.
At this time, the sky goes dark, temperature falls down.
View from Casey Jones Distillery @CaseysCut #SolarEclipse2017 pic.twitter.com/eZwrwkAol0
— Paul Sansom (@paulsansom) 21 August 2017
For the observers, it was once in a lifetime experience.
Only those located in the path of the moon’s full shadow, called Umbra, could see a total solar eclipse.
Here’s #SolarEclipse2017 views of totality in Nebraska! Take a look here and watch our live show for more: https://t.co/cOKssim1bY pic.twitter.com/qFgqf3ZI2s
— NASA (@NASA) 21 August 2017
Someone captured the moment from an airplane, too.
Wow, someone caught the #SolarEclipse2017 mid flight! Breathtaking. ❤️pic.twitter.com/gzNCNiaWVR
— Ricky Davila (@TheRickyDavila) 21 August 2017
All the shades of the universe in one divine picture.
