Total solar eclipse 2024 darkens skies from Torreon to Texas and Maine to Newfoundland

View of the total solar eclipse in Cleveland, United States (Image credit: NASA's Glenn Research Center/X)

The eagerly anticipated total solar eclipse over the North American skies unfolded on April 8, setting off a remarkable journey from Mexico to Canada. The total solar eclipse, sweeping across North America, cast parts of Mexico, the US, and Canada into darkness during daylight hours as the moon blocked the sun.

During a total solar eclipse, the moon moves between the Earth and the Sun, completely blocking the Sun and casting a shadow on the Earth below. Darkness descends in the daylight, driving the temperature down noticeably. This phenomenon occurs when the moon's disk appears to cover the entire disk of the sun in the sky.

The eclipse commenced its journey at 11:18pm IST in Mexico, with observers in Mazatlan among the first to witness the moon obstructing the sun's rays, initiating the onset of totality and plunging the region into darkness for approximately 4 minutes. Torreón, another city in Mexico, also experienced a profound darkness as the moon obscured the sun completely.

The eclipse then made its way across the border into the US. In Texas, cities such as Eagle Pass and Del Rio were enveloped in darkness for a little over 4 minutes. The eclipse then reached Dallas where viewers were treated to nearly 4.5 minutes of totality, creating a dusk-like atmosphere.

After crossing more than a dozen states, including Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Vermont, the total eclipse bid farewell to the US in Maine. From there, the eclipse continued its trajectory over eastern Canada, captivating observers in provinces such as New Brunswick and Newfoundland before finally concluding at 1.16am IST in Newfoundland on April 9.

Outside the path of totality, observers across the continental US witnessed a partial solar eclipse, where the moon blocked only a portion of the Sun's light.

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The total duration of the eclipse spanned two hours, captivating spectators with moments of darkness and awe-inspiring views of the celestial phenomenon.

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