Eclipse mania swept across North America on Monday, captivating tens of millions of people with a breathtaking celestial event that provided a rare convergence of scientific intrigue and commercial opportunities — not to mention a reason to celebrate.
The spectacle began as the Moon’s shadow plunged Mexico’s Pacific coast into total darkness at 11:07 am local time (1807 GMT) before racing across the United States at supersonic speed, only to exit over Canada’s Atlantic coast less than an hour and a half later.
Along the eclipse’s “path of totality,” where the Moon fully obscured the Sun for precious minutes (weather permitting), festivities, viewing parties, and even mass weddings were organized. Unfortunately, parts of Texas were obscured by cloud cover, dimming some enthusiasts’ experience.
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Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador traveled to Sinaloa to witness the eclipse firsthand from Mazatlan, describing the event as “a very beautiful, unforgettable day.”
Thousands gathered in Mexico City, just outside the path of totality, with one attendee, 29-year-old artist Mariana Juarez, remarking, “These are opportunities given by Earth and nature that we must seize.”
This year’s path of totality, spanning 115 miles (185 kilometers) wide, covered nearly 32 million Americans, with an additional 150 million residing within 200 miles of the strip.
The next total solar eclipse visible from a large part of North America won’t occur until 2044.
Businesses eagerly capitalized on the excitement with special events, while hotels and rentals in prime viewing locations had been booked solid for months.
At Stonehenge II park in Ingram, Texas, eclipse enthusiasts from around the world gathered, screaming and cheering at the moment of totality.
Jeni Lyn Hunter, 57, battling stage four cancer, shared, “It means a lot to me because I have stage four cancer but I’m not giving up; this is a rebirth of the Sun of life.”
Meanwhile, in Russellville, Arkansas, over 300 couples were reportedly poised to exchange vows at the “A Total Eclipse of the Heart” mass wedding ceremony.
Delta Airlines arranged two special flights along the eclipse path, and many schools in the zone closed for the day to allow students to enjoy the cosmic spectacle.
In Canada, at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, crowds gathered on Monday, April 8, 2024, to witness the rare solar eclipse, adding to the shared excitement of an event that captivated the entire continent.
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