Millions of Americans witness historic and spectacular total solar eclipse
Millions of Americans gathered to witness a rare and spectacular celestial event - a total solar eclipse. The Moon cast a huge shadow while passing in front of the Sun as people gazed at the sky in wonder, wearing protective eye glasses. This was the first total solar eclipse the US' lower 48 states witnessed in 38 years and the first to track coast-to-coast.
People got a direct view at celestial wonder's classical features
At 10:16 local time, the event got under way at Oregon in the West. Skywatchers witnessed the classic features of a total eclipse, which lasted two-minutes. This includes "Baily's beads," which is visible when the last shafts of sunlight drives through the Moon's valleys. They also witnessed the "Diamond Ring," the point of light that marks the total eclipse's beginning and end.
Total eclipse only visible in America
Skywatchers dotted coastal beaches and small towns along the total eclipse's path as it raced from Oregon in the west to South Carolina in the east, a 90-minute journey. Call it celestial good fortune, but the US had exclusive rights to the totality. The partial eclipse was visible across North America, the northern sections of South America, and parts of Western Europe.
Trump breaks cardinal rule, looks directly at sun during eclipse
There's one all-important safety rule for total solar eclipses - don't stare directly at sun. It will harm your eyes. Use a specialized solar-filter glasses. Try telling that to Donald Trump! Washington, DC, witnessed an 81 percent totality eclipse, which Trump viewed from the White House. At one point, he glanced at the sky without wearing protective glasses, as an aide shouted "Don't look!"
