Mexico City Witnesses Total Solar Eclipse
As millions of people across Mexico, the US, and Canada gazed up at the sky on Monday, a total solar eclipse made its way across the continent, casting a narrow path of darkness in its wake.
The moon’s shadow made its first contact with the Earth in the Pacific Ocean, before journeying across Mexico, plunging daylight into darkness as mesmerized crowds looked on.
The eclipse then crossed over into the US, shrouding large areas of Texas, including the bustling cities of Austin and Dallas, in darkness.
While total solar eclipses occur roughly every 18 months, they often take place in remote or unpopulated areas. This particular eclipse, however, passed over several major cities spanning three countries.
Although Washington DC and New York City were not within the path of totality, both cities witnessed about 90% of the Sun being covered by the Moon. This prompted many people to take to the streets and skyscrapers in search of a glimpse of the rare event.
Spectators were treated to a spectacular view of the Sun’s corona, the outer atmosphere typically hidden by its intense glare. Some even had the fortune of witnessing solar prominences, extensions of the Sun visible behind the Moon.
As the eclipse bid farewell to North America, stargazers in Canada were the final witnesses before the event disappeared into the Atlantic Ocean, concluding a remarkable celestial show. — BBC
