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| Solar eclipse 2017: Americans gaze at sky spectacular | Solar eclipse 2017: Americans gaze at sky spectacular |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A total solar eclipse has wowed the US. | A total solar eclipse has wowed the US. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Millions of people moved to get into the path of darkness, putting on their protective glasses to gaze at the sky in wonder. | Millions of people moved to get into the path of darkness, putting on their protective glasses to gaze at the sky in wonder. |
| 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 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. |
| The spectacle got under way in earnest in Oregon at 10:16 local time (17:16 GMT; 18:16 BST). | |
| Skywatchers gathered at coastal beaches and towns witnessed the Sun's disc being completely obscured by the Moon for two minutes. | |
| But just before and just after "totality", they also got to see some of the classic features of a full solar eclipse. | |
| These included "Baily'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. | These included "Baily'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. |
| From Oregon, the eclipse shadow raced on through Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. It was a journey that took roughly 90 minutes. | |
| Small towns along the path were inundated with visitors. So were the National Parks. | Small towns along the path were inundated with visitors. So were the National Parks. |
| In Carbondale, Illinois, city authorities billed their locality as the "Eclipse Crossroads of America" because it would enjoy totality both on Monday and when the next US eclipse occurs in 2024. | |
| As anticipated, Carbondale proved to be a huge magnet to skywatchers who made good use of the more than 60,000 extra car parking spaces organised for the day. | |
| The area also had the privilege of enjoying the longest period of darkness anywhere in the country at just over two minutes and 40 seconds. | |
| The Atlantic coastal city of Charleston was the place tasked with saying goodbye to the eclipse. Beachgoers experienced the full shadow at 14:48 local time (18:48 GMT; 19:48 BST). | |
| Although, the US had exclusive rights on totality, a partial eclipse was visible across all of North America, reaching beyond the Canadian Arctic; as well as across the north of South America down to Bolivia. | |
| In Washington DC, President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and their son, Barron, made sure they had protective glasses as they looked skyward. | |
| Parts of western Europe were also set to see the Moon take a chunk out of the Sun at the end of the day just before the star dipped below the horizon. | |
| It was just a small bite, but in parts of France and the Canary Islands where clouds were limited - it was no less of a spectacle. | |
| For those outside the path of the Moon's shadow or smothered by poor weather, there was always the internet. | |
| The US space agency (Nasa) streamed pictures from many vantage points including from a series of helium-filled balloons. | |
| Some of the most spectacular shots of the day came from orbit. | |
| Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli looked down on the moving shadow from the International Space Station. | |
| And from their "stationary" positions some 36,000km above the planet, meteorological satellites also returned some stunning imagery. | |
| The next total solar eclipse on Earth is on 2 July, 2019, over the South Pacific, Chile, Argentina. | The next total solar eclipse on Earth is on 2 July, 2019, over the South Pacific, Chile, Argentina. |
| Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos | Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos |