Cloudy with a Chance of Eclipse: North America’s Celestial Spectacle Draws Masses

The Great American Eclipse of 2024 had millions of sky gazers along a narrow corridor across North America on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating a celestial showstopper. From Mexico to the U.S. to Canada, the excitement was palpable, with only one tiny hitch – the forecasters’ pesky predictions of cloudy skies. Despite the looming weather woes, the promise of a total eclipse was enough to draw in the crowds, with the best viewing conditions expected in Vermont, Maine, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland.

This eclipse was a big deal, folks. It was slated to be the most widely observed solar eclipse in North American history, thanks to its path densely populated with eager spectators and the tantalizing prospect of over four minutes of midday darkness in select locations. With almost everyone on the continent guaranteed a glimpse of at least a partial eclipse, provided the weather played along, Monday’s celestial event was set to be a real blockbuster.

Picture this: the moon gracefully sliding in front of the sun, casting its shadow across the land and plunging parts of North America into eerie midday darkness. Clocking in at over four minutes, this total solar eclipse was a whopping spectacle, nearly doubling the duration of the coast-to-coast eclipse that thrilled audiences seven years prior. And get this – it’ll be a cool two decades before the U.S. gets treated to another solar show of this magnitude. So, if you missed out this time, mark your calendars for 2045!

The eclipse journey spanned a five-hour spectacle, starting in the Pacific and making its grand entrance at Mazatlan, Mexico, before waltzing through Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and a dozen other U.S. states. From the heart of the Midwest to the serene landscapes of New England, the eclipse then made its way up to Canada, culminating in a grand finale in Newfoundland. This was a celestial road trip for the ages.

But before you start staring at the sun, heed this friendly reminder: eye protection is a non-negotiable must-have for eclipse viewing. So, whip out those eclipse glasses and filters, folks! Unless, of course, the sun decides to play hide-and-seek behind the moon, in which case you can sneak a peek without worry. With the path of totality stretching approximately 115 miles wide this time around, major cities like Dallas, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Buffalo, New York, and Montreal found themselves in the eclipse’s crosshairs. And with hordes of eclipse chasers, amateur astronomers, scientists, and the just plain curious flocking to catch a glimpse, it’s no wonder hotels, flights, and roads were bursting at the seams.