North America has experienced a total solar eclipse for the first time in seven years.
The last time, before Monday, there was a solar eclipse in the region was in the US in August 2017.
After Monday’s eclipse, the US is not expected to see another one in 20 years.
Eko Hot Blog reports that residents of Mexico, Canada, United States (US), and other parts of North America were on Monday treated to amazing scenes of a total solar eclipse.
The eclipse, which was precisely predicted, yet undeniably mysterious, marked a moment when the moon crept across the face of the sun as seen from Earth, casting its shadow onto the US and some other parts of North America.
Many Americans travelled to areas where they could get a good glimpse of the cosmic wonder.
Oliver Cantwell, from Fair Grove, Mo. views the solar eclipse in West Plains, Mo. on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo; Nathan Papes, Springfield News-Leader Via USA TODAY NETWORK)
While some parts witnessed a total eclipse, others saw a partial eclipse.
A partial shadow crossed into the US in Texas just after noon local time, and a bit more than an hour later, the minutes of “totality” began.
The total eclipse of the sun then traced a path from southern Texas to northern Maine, where it exited into Canada and the ocean beyond.
The rare event has been described as an astronomical experience like no other. It was widely anticipated not only for its remarkable period of darkness, but for its rare timing: No total solar eclipse would be visible from the contiguous US again until 2044.
An airplane passes near the eclipse during the Hoosier Cosmic Celebration at Memorial Stadium on Monday, April 8, 2024. Bobby Goddin/Herald-Times
The total eclipse began in Mexico at about 11:07 a.m. PDT, Monday before crossing into Texas at 1:27 p.m. CDT. It ended in Maine at 3:35 p.m. EDT.
See more photos of the eclipse and people watching the phenomenon below:
The total solar eclipse seen above downtown Evansville, Ind., Monday, April 8, 2024. MaCabe Brown, Evansville Courier & Press Via USA TODAY NETWORK
William Shatner watches the eclipse during the Hoosier Cosmic Celebration at Memorial Stadium on Monday, April 8, 2024. Bobby Goddin/Herald-Times
The total solar eclipse seen above downtown Evansville, Ind., Monday, April 8, 2024. MaCabe Brown, Evansville Courier & Press Via USA TODAY NETWORK
A partial eclipse is seen over the Washington Monument on Monday, April 8, 2024. Jack Gruber, USA TODAY
Tierna Davidson, middle right, a defender for the U.S. Women’s National Football Team, takes a peak at the solar eclipse with her teammates and staff as it passes over Columbus, Ohio at 99% totality Monday, April 8, 2024. Josh Morgan, USA TODAY
The total solar eclipse seen above downtown Evansville, Ind., Monday, April 8, 2024. MaCabe Brown, Courier & Press Via USA TODAY NETWORK
Sandra Nixon and Caterina Fortino of Peekskill, New York, watch the eclipse at Riverfront Green Park in Peekskill April 8, 2024. Seth Harrison, The Westchester Journal News Via USA TODAY NETWORK
Photographer Ken Ruinard shot this photo of the partial solar eclipse from Falls Park using a 1,200 mm f8 800isp 1000th sec shutter at 2:36 p.m. Ken Ruinard Photo/ANDERSON INDEPENDENT MAIL
A total solar eclipse is viewed from the north patio of the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie on April 8, 2024. GREG WOHLFORD/ERIE TIMES-NEWS
Coralie Halfman, 6, of Peekskill, watches the eclipse with her family at Riverfront Green Park in Peekskill, N.Y. April 8, 2024. Seth Harrison, The Westchester Journal News Via USA TODAY NETWORK
A total solar eclipse is seen in Mazatlán, Mexico on Monday, April 8, 2024. OMAR ORNELAS, USA TODAY NETWORK
A partial solar eclipse is seen from El Paso, Texas, on April 8, 2024. Guests were invited to watch portions of the solar eclipse, which will be partially seen in El Paso at about 82.1% at La Perla, the highest open-air rooftop in El Paso, TX, in the Plaza Hotel, on Monday, April 8, 2024. GABY VELASQUEZ/ EL PASO TIMES / USA TODAY NETWORK
(From left to right) UWM masters students Reshma Dangeti, from Hyderabad India, Subhashini Thilakar-Chennai, from Tamil Nadu ,India and Meenakshi Anupindi, from Hyderabad, India watch the eclipse during a solar eclipse viewing party University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in Milwaukee on Monday, April 8, 2024. Mike De Sisti / The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The total solar eclipse can be seen at Hot Springs National Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas on Monday, April 8, 2024. Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal
Garretson Bernard, 9, 4th grader from Westerville, Ohio checks out the sun after getting glasses at the COSI Epic Eclipse Experience event before the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024 in Columbus. Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch
Several thousand people attended the solar eclipse viewing party at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California. The event was sponsored by the Cahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics. Caltech Astronomy and Astrophysics department had solar telescopes, and astrophysicists on hand to help people get the most out of this rare experience. (Photo: Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY)