A total solar eclipse crossed over North America on Monday, briefly darkening the skies for millions of people.
The total eclipse began over the South Pacific Ocean, with Mexico’s Pacific coast seeing fully darkened skies just before 11:10 a.m. PDT, according to NASA. It next crossed the U.S. before reaching Canada and moving over the Atlantic Ocean near the coast of Newfoundland.
The path of totality — or the areas where the moon will completely block the sun — included several states: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.
Total solar eclipse moves off US, continues over parts of Canada
Update 3:45 p.m. EDT April 8: The total solar eclipse has ended for the U.S. after moving across a swathe of the country on Monday.
Several areas will continue to see a partial eclipse, with it lifting from its final destination — Maine — around 4:40 p.m., according to NASA.
The moon’s shadow moved into Canada on Monday at a speed of about 3,038 mph, or about four times the speed of sound, The Washington Post reported. It is expected to move off North America just after5:15 p.m. NDT (3:45 p.m. EDT), according to NASA.
See: The eclipse as seen from space
Update 3:40 p.m. EDT April 8: NASA shared a photo Monday of the total solar eclipse as seen from the International Space Station
Northeast sees totality
Update 3:25 p.m. EDT April 8: The path of totality has shifted to the Northeast, with people in Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine seeing or about to see the moon blocking the sun.
According to NASA, totality is expected in:
- Erie, Pennsylvania: 3:16 p.m. - 3:20 p.m. EDT
- Buffalo, New York: 3:18 p.m. - 3:22 p.m. EDT
- Burlington, Vermont: 3:26 p.m. - 3:29 p.m. EDT
- Lancaster, New Hampshire: 3:27 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. EDT
- Caribou, Maine: 3:32 p.m. to 3:34 p.m. EDT
The partial eclipse is expected to end in Maine by 4:40 p.m. EDT.
Image shows totality over Kentucky
Update 3:20 p.m. EDT April 8: Officials with the National Weather Service’s Paducah, Kentucky office shared an image showing the sun as they saw it during totality.
Satellite images show shadow over North America
Update 3:15 p.m. EDT April 8: A satellite photo shared by the National Weather Service showed the shadow thrown over North America on Monday as the moon moved in front of the sun.
Officials with the NWS office in Springfield, Missouri, shared a satellite image of the Earth as totality reached the state Monday afternoon.
Midwest sees totality
Update 3:10 p.m. EDT April 8: People across the Midwest saw the moon block the sun in its entirety on Monday.
The eclipse was seen Monday afternoon in parts of Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kentucky also saw darkened skies.
The path of totality continues Monday over Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.
Noticing color changes during the eclipse? That’s expected
Update 3:05 p.m. EDT April 8: During the eclipse, you might notice that colors appear to be changing.
That’s usual. You can blame it on the Purkinje effect — the tendency for red and yellows to fade faster than blues or greens of the same brightness when light intensity decreases.
[ 2024 solar eclipse: Should you wear a certain color when you watch the eclipse? ]
See: Moon blocks sun over Texas
Update 2:55 p.m. EDT April 8: A photo shared by the National Weather Service showed totality over the Dallas-Fort Worth area on Monday.
Totality to reach Arkansas
Update 2:50 p.m. EDT April 8: People in Arkansas were next expected to be plunged into darkness briefly as totality reaches the state.
Totality was set to begin at 1:51 p.m. CDT and last until 1:54 p.m. CDT, according to NASA. The moon also blocked the sun for people in Texas and Oklahoma earlier.
Next, totality will arrive over Missouri.
Total solar eclipse arrives over Texas
Update 2:34 p.m. EDT April 8: The moon has fully blocked the sun over Texas, officials said.
According to NASA, the eclipse is expected to reach totality in Dallas beginning at 1:40 p.m. CDT. The moon will move off the sun around four minutes later, with a partial solar eclipse expected until just after 3 p.m. CDT.
‘Devil comet’ will be visible during solar eclipse
Update 2:30 p.m. EDT April 9: A massive comet known as the “devil comet” will be visible during Monday’s solar eclipse.
“The comet would be located about 25 degrees away from the eclipsed sun,” said Dr. Paul Chodas, manager of the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies, and Davide Farnocchia, navigation engineer, at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, according to CNN. “The comet should be fairly easy to find during the total solar eclipse, as well as a number of planets, but the main focus during those 4 minutes should be on the eclipse itself!”
[ ‘Devil comet’ returns after 71 years; may be able to see it during the eclipse ]
Planning to celebrate the eclipse? Check out these deals
Update 2:20 p.m. EDT April 9: Several businesses and restaurants are offering people deals to celebrate Monday’s total solar eclipse.
[ Eclipse deals: Burger King, Pizza Hut, Smoothie King offer free food, special products ]
1st city seeing total eclipse in Mexico
Update 2:10 p.m. EDT April 9: The first city in North America to see the total solar eclipse, Mazatlán on Mexico’s Pacific coast, is now seeing the moon fully blocking the sun.
Parts of US seeing darker skies
Update 2 p.m. EDT April 9: The southwestern part of the country is already seeing darkened skies as the moon begins to move in front of the sun on Monday.
Satellite images shared by the National Weather Service showed the shadow moving over Earth.
What will the eclipse look like where you live?
Update 1:55 p.m. EDT April 9: Even if you aren’t directly in the path of totality, there’s a good chance you will see darkened skies as the moon moves between the sun and the earth on Monday.
[ Solar eclipse 2024: Enter your zip code, see how eclipse will look from your home ]
Beginning of eclipse visible on satellite imagery
Update 1:45 p.m. EDT April 9: Satellite imagery shared by the National Weather Service shows the start of the eclipse as seen from space.
Best eclipse viewing expected in northern New England, NWS says
Update 1:40 p.m. EDT April 9: The clearest skies for viewing Monday’s total solar eclipse will be over northern New England, the National Weather Service confirmed earlier in the morning.
Several areas in the path of totality are expected to see clouds which may obscure part of the view, officials said.
See: People prepare to view solar eclipse
Update 1:15 p.m. EDT April 8: Across the U.S., people are preparing their eclipse glasses and finding their perfect viewpoints for the total solar eclipse.
Partial solar eclipse visible in Mexico
Update 1:10 p.m. EDT April 8: Skywatchers in Mazatlán on Mexico’s Pacific coast began to see a partial solar eclipse on Monday ahead of the total solar eclipse, expected in about an hour.