A spectacular total solar eclipse captivated millions across North America on Monday, with parts of 15 US states falling within the path of totality. The event, which darkened skies in the middle of the day, was eagerly anticipated by astronomy enthusiasts who eagerly awaited the celestial phenomenon.
The total eclipse made its first appearance along Mexico’s Pacific Coast at approximately 11:07 a.m. PDT before traversing a wide swath of the United States, stretching from Texas to Maine, and extending into Canada. According to NASA, an estimated 31.6 million people resided within the path of totality, with an additional 150 million individuals residing within 200 miles of the eclipse’s trajectory. The path ranged in width from 108 to 122 miles.
Commencing over the Pacific Ocean, the total solar eclipse reached continental North America with the first location experiencing totality on Mexico’s Pacific Coast. The eclipse then progressed through Texas, traversing over a dozen states before exiting into Canada in southern Ontario. The eclipse concluded its journey over continental North America at around 5:16 p.m. NDT from Newfoundland, Canada.
States along the path of totality included Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Additionally, small parts of Tennessee and Michigan were treated to the awe-inspiring sight of a total solar eclipse.
Major cities such as San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, Little Rock, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Burlington fell within the path of totality, providing prime viewing opportunities for eclipse enthusiasts.
The eclipse commenced in the U.S. as a partial eclipse near Eagle Pass, Texas, around 12:06 p.m. CDT, reaching totality by approximately 1:27 p.m. CDT, before progressing North-Eastward over the following hours. Maine was the final state in the country to experience totality.
Notably, viewers near Torreón, Mexico, enjoyed the longest duration of totality, lasting 4 minutes and 28 seconds, according to NASA. Most locations along the centreline of the path of totality witnessed totality durations between 3.5 and 4 minutes, with Kerrville, Texas, experiencing a totality duration of 4 minutes and 24 seconds.
While the next total solar eclipse will occur in 2026, it will primarily pass over the Arctic Ocean, with limited visibility in Greenland, Iceland, Portugal, and northern Spain. However, North American enthusiasts can look forward to the next total solar eclipse visible from the continent in 2033, albeit over Alaska. The eagerly anticipated coast-to-coast total solar eclipse will take place in 2045, cutting through several states from California to Florida.
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