A total solar eclipse is now visible from the United States, as the dramatic celestial spectacle sweeps across North America.
It will take 1 hour and 8 minutes for the moon’s shadow to traverse the country from Texas to Maine, crossing parts of 15 states.
The total eclipse darkened the skies in Kerrville, Texas, where a large gathering of eclipse watchers have gathered, including CNN and NASA, at 2:32 p.m. ET. While the weather was cloudy, the crowd cheered and clapped during moments when the sky cleared, revealing the epic view. Next up were the cities and towns in the Midwest, with Indianapolis and Cleveland among the places viewers experienced the thrill of a total eclipse.
The eclipse is expected to end on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada at 5:16 p.m. local time (3:46 p.m. ET). Mazatlan, on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, became the first city to experience totality earlier on Monday. Check to see what the eclipse will look like and when it will appear over your area using our map.
Those squarely along the center line of the path of totality will see an eclipse that lasts between 3 ½ and 4 minutes, according to NASA.
The diamond ring effect is seen as the moon eclipses the sun on Monday in Fort Worth, Texas. Ron Jenkins/Getty Images
In the US, an estimated 32 million people live within the path of totality and a total solar eclipse will be visible for those in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, although weather threatens to spoil the fun for some.
Only a few isolated clouds are expected in Vermont through Maine, as well as Missouri through southern Indiana, making for optimal eclipse viewing. However, much of Texas and the eastern Great Lakes may see less than ideal weather.
In the Northeast, eclipse chasers have encountered heavy traffic. While traveling along Interstate 93 near Lincoln, New Hampshire, this morning, Karen Siegel encountered parking-lot level traffic just outside the path of totality. It took five hours instead of three to go from Newton, Massachusetts, to Barton, Vermont, she said.
“Our GPS said we’d get where we wanted to go, but parking lot 2 miles per hour was a little scary!” Siegel said.
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