Solar eclipse 2017: US public in thrall to sky show
Solar eclipse 2017: Americans gaze at sky spectacular
(about 2 hours later)
The Great American Eclipse is under way.
A total solar eclipse has wowed the US.
A huge shadow cast by the Moon as it passes in front of the Sun has just touched the west coast of North America.
A huge shadow cast by the Moon as it passed in front of the Sun swept across the nation, from Oregon in the west to South Carolina in the east.
Over the course of the next 90 minutes it will track east, cutting across 14 states, from Oregon to South Carolina, before heading out over the Atlantic.
Millions of people moved to get into the path of darkness, putting on their protective glasses to gaze at the sky in wonder.
It is the first total solar eclipse visible from America's lower 48 states in 38 years.
It was the first total solar eclipse visible from America's lower 48 states in 38 years, and the first since 1918 to track from coast to coast.
It is also the first such event since 1918 where the path of darkness traverses both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, and the first total solar eclipse to make landfall exclusively in the US since independence in 1776.
The spectacle started in Oregon at 10:16 local time.
Millions of Americans have been on the move, attempting to get into a position where they can best view the event.
Skywatchers gathered on the coast witnessed the Sun's disc being completely obscured by the Moon for two minutes.
Small towns in the 14 states on the "path of totality" have been inundated with visitors. So too have the National Parks.
But just before and just after totality, they also got to see some of the classic features of a total solar eclipse.
People directly in the path, and blessed with clear skies, will witness our star's light blocked out for up to two minutes and 40 seconds.
These included "Bailey's Beads" which arise as the last shafts of sunlight drive through valleys on the Moon; and the "Diamond Ring", which is the single brilliant point of light that signals the beginning and end of totality.
Those who stand off to the side will experience a partial eclipse, which on this occasion will encompass all of North America and northern parts of South America.
From Oregon, the eclipse shadow raced on through Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina. It was a journey that took roughly 90 minutes.
There are even parts of western Europe, including the UK and Ireland, that will snatch a sight of the Moon's disc taking a bite out of the Sun just as it sets.
Small towns along the path were inundated with visitors. So were the National Parks.
Wherever people watch the drama unfold, they are urged to take care. Looking directly at the Sun with the naked eye can be dangerous.
In Carbondale, Illinois, city authorities billed the location as the "Eclipse Crossroads of America" because it would enjoy totality both on Monday and when the next US eclipse occurred in 2024.
Many commentators believe Monday's eclipse will prove to be the most observed, most photographed, and best documented such event in human history.
As anticipated, it proved to be a huge magnet to visitors who made good use of the more than 60,000 extra car parking spaces organised for the day.
It will certainly challenge the numbers that saw the 2009 eclipse that swept across India and China.
The area also enjoyed the longest period of darkness, lasting two minutes and 40 seconds.
The US, of course, has excellent transport connections, and this will have helped many people get into a good position.
The Atlantic coastal city of Charleston was the final big urban area tasked with saying goodbye to the eclipse. It experienced the full shadow at 14:47 local time (18:47 GMT; 19:47 BST).
More than 50 million people are said to live within a two-hours' drive of the 115km-wide (70 miles) totality path.
Although, the US had exclusive rights on totality, a partial eclipse was visible across all of North America and the north of South America.
State and local authorities prepared for Monday as if they were about to confront the fallout from some natural disaster.
Parts of western Europe were also set to see the Moon take a little chunk out of the Sun at the end of the day just before the star dipped below the horizon.
Carbondale in Illinois billed itself as the "Eclipse Crossroads of America" because it is in the path of darkness both on Monday and when the next US eclipse occurs in 2024.
The next total solar eclipse on Earth is on 2 July, 2019, over the South Pacific, Chile, Argentina.
As anticipated, it has proved to be a magnet for visitors who have been making good use of the more than 60,000 extra car parking spaces organised for the day.
Many skywatchers were expected to wait until as late as possible before deciding where to go, based on up-to-date weather forecasts.
Many of those who planned years and months ahead consulted historical weather data.
This information suggested the highest probability of clear skies would be in the northwest. Madras in Oregon, with its 70% probability of cloud-free conditions, was another go-to destination.
The "eclipse show" for land-dwellers began on the Oregon coast at 09:05 local time (16:05 GMT; 17:05 BST) when skywatchers saw the Moon start to traverse the Sun.
Totality was then reached at 10:16 (17:16 GMT; 18:16 BST). The Sun's light was completely blocked out for one minute and 59 seconds.
The Moon's shadow is set to race on through Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina. It is a journey that takes roughly 90 minutes.
The place that will experience the longest period of totality (2 mins, 40 sec) is about 10km south of the city of Carbondale, Illinois.
The Atlantic coastal city of Charleston will say goodbye to the eclipse. It experiences totality at 14:47 local time (18:47 GMT; 19:47 BST).
It is around this time that Europeans will be catching their partial view of the event.
Ireland, Northern Ireland, northern England and Scotland see a brief partial eclipse.
In Belfast, for example, this partial starts at 19:37 BST and ends at 20:23 BST.
Southern England sees the Moon start to take a chunk out of the Sun just as it goes over the horizon.
Skywatchers will want to make for high ground and pray that any cloud clears just at the right moment.
Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos
Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos
