Millions Across North America Expect Solar Eclipse
Millions of people in the path of a solar eclipse across North America are gazing towards the heavens as the moon completely blocks the sun for more than four minutes in some areas.
One of the first places to witness the eclipse was Mazatlan on Mexico’s west coast. Thousands of people gathered to view it. Lourdes Corro, 43, traveled 10 hours by car to get there.
Beyond Mazatlan, the eclipse will be visible, weather permitting, along a path starting in Mexico and then crossing through the United States and into Canada.
Eclipse fans gathered in places along the “path of totality”, including the city of Fredericksburg in central Texas, where the total eclipse occured shortly after 1:30pm (18:30 GMT).
That is where Michael Zeiler, a veteran eclipse chaser from New Mexico who has already witnessed 11 total eclipses across the globe, plans to be.
“First-time viewers of a total eclipse will be gobsmacked by the sight,” Zeiler said. “It will be a peak life experience.”
About 32 million people in the US live within the path of totality, with federal officials predicting another five million people will travel to be there.
It will take about 80 minutes from the moment the moon first begins to cover the sun to the moment of totality, then another 80 minutes to complete the process in reverse.
Experts have advised eclipse viewers to use protective solar glasses to prevent eye damage from looking at the sun with the naked eye.
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