Total Solar Eclipse 2024 concludes after sojourn across US, Mexico and Canada

The Total Solar Eclipse 2024 — also known as Great American Eclipse Part II — has come to an end after it traversed parts of Mexico, the United States and Canada, where millions watched this once-in-a-lifetime breathtaking celestial event.

The total solar eclipse plunged parts of Mexico, the United States, and Canada into darkness in the middle of the day.

In Mexico, the city of Mazatlán on the Pacific Coast was the first to experience the full eclipse, which lasted about 4 minutes. People in Torreón were excited to take photos and host visitors from around the world.

In the United States, the eclipse was seen in 15 states, from Texas to Maine. Despite the cloudy weather in Kerrville, Texas, people cheered when the sky cleared up, revealing the spectacular view.

At the Dallas Zoo, the animals reacted too - flamingos huddled in the middle of their pond, and penguins clustered together. In Fredericksburg, Texas, the hot and humid day quickly turned chilly.

Meanwhile, in Canada, the path of totality — the stretch where the moon will block the sunlight entirely — included parts of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, P.E.I. and Newfoundland.

People outside the path of totality saw a partial solar eclipse, with just some of the sun obscured by the moon. The rare event was an astronomical experience like no other that was unusually accessible to millions of people.

Live updates of Total Solar Eclipse 2024

7:55pm GMT —  Total Solar Eclipse 2024 ends in Canada

The celestial event of the Total Solar Eclipse 2024 has come to a close in Newfoundland, Canada at 3:46pm ET.

However, a partial solar eclipse will be visible in areas where the moon blocks out just part of the sun until 4:47pm ET.

7:36pm GMT — Total Solar Eclipse shifting to Canada

It is time for Canadians to witness the spectacular Total Solar Eclipse 2024.

7:20pm GMT — The eclipse has reached totality in Indianapolis, Indiana

6:56pm GMT — Totality in central Texas

It was dark as night as more than four minutes of total darkness took over Fredericksburg, Texas, reports CNN.

06:46pm GMT — Temperatures go down in Texas 

According to a report from CNN, Texas saw a drop in temperature as the darkness prevailed.

Weather station data quoted in the report revealed the temperatures have started to go down by a couple of degrees in different parts close to the southern border of the US.

Estimations are of 10 degrees drop in some areas in the path of totality with less in the partial eclipse areas.

06:41pm GMT — Shots reveal totality in Mexico

The picture shows parts of Mexico witnessing complete darkness amid the eclipse. 

06:38pm GMT — Totality reported in Fredericksburg, Texas

The eclipse has reached totality in Fredericksburg, Texas.

06:36pm GMT — Southern US may now see Total Solar Eclipse

Moon is putting its cap on the Sun blocking the sunlight and pushing the Earth into totality which is anticipated to be seen in some cities around the US-Mexico border.

"The total eclipse commenced in Eagle Pass at 2:27pm ET and Del Rio at 2:28pm ET," Nasa said

According to Nasa, the solar eclipse is also expected to reach totality in the following cities in Texas:

• San Antonio at 2:34pm ET
• Fort Worth at 2:40pm ET
• Dallas at 2:40pm ET

06:33pm GMT — Indiana decides to close highway amid totality

Indiana said highway rest stops in the path of totality were getting close to full. The Indiana State Patrol said the state would close them when they fill up and keep them closed for the duration of the eclipse.

06:30pm GMT — You may catch glance of Devil Comet

Devil comet to become visible for those people witnessing totality. The comet — originally known as Comet12P/Pons-Brooks appeared last month in the night sky.

“The comet would be located about 25 degrees away from the eclipsed sun,” Dr Paul Chodas, manager of the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies, and Davide Farnocchia, navigation engineer, at Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, said. 

06:25pm GMT — Clouds hinder Solar Eclipse for some

Clouds are obscuring the eclipse for some people

Some eclipse watchers in Texas have clouds interfering with their view as as per the video by Reuters.

06:21pm GMT — Torreon, Mexico sees totality

The eclipse has reached totality in Torreon, Mexico, according to Reuters.

06:20pm GMT — Do you need to worry about pets?

As humans are directed to follow precautions due to Total Solar Eclipse, veterinarians suggested that one does not need to worry about pets.

CNN reported quoting Dr Jerry Klein, the chief veterinary officer for the American Kennel Club: "Dogs don’t naturally stare at the sun, so it’s not likely your dog will look up during the eclipse."

06:11pm GMT — Mazatlan, Mexico witnesses totality

Sun has been completely blocked in the Mexican city of Mazatlan.

06:07pm GMT — Mexico City children capitalising partial solar eclipse

The forecast for Mexico City was a partial eclipse — less than 80% — however, it did not discourage the schools to not getting practical astronomy lessons.

Educational institutions in the city directed children to stay home and spend time with families.

According to BBC, Mexico's ancient peoples — the Aztecs and Mayas — were astronomers, capable of predicting eclipses themselves.

05:44pm GMT — Extraordinary Total Solar Eclipse for Cleveland, Ohio

It is a rare event in Cleveland, Ohio, as the city will experience a total solar eclipse after 2444, 420 years from today.

Nasa astrophysicist Dr Joshua Pepper said that we are in for a treat.

Pepper told CNN that we are living in a perfect era for solar eclipses, where the earth, sun, and moon can occasionally align to create a total solar eclipse as the moon moves away from the earth at about one centimeter a year.

"In about 600 million years, it is about how long it will take for the moon to gradually move away from the earth," Pepper told the outlet.

"As the moon gradually moves away, it gets smaller and smaller and its apparent size as we look at it. So eventually there will be no total solar eclipses are only be annual or solar eclipses."

05:33pm GMT — Over 300 couples to tie knot before Total Solar Eclipse in Arkansas

As many as 350 couples are set to tie the knot just before the Total Solar Eclipse, reported CNN.

A couple quoted in the report decided to marry each other in 2017 as they have been together for 17 years. But they could not as their mother passed and the ceremony was delayed. Now it is the time for them.

“It's been on the back burner for a while with my mom passing and stuff. I was taking it pretty hard and now that this eclipse, I feel like my mom is, this is my mom telling me do this. It's time. It's ready,” Ashley Smith said.

Smith and Knebel were among 358 couples to get married at the “Elope at the Eclipse” event in Russellville, Arkansas. The ceremony will be concluded just before the part of Earth is plunged into darkness.

5:25pm GMT — Mars has celestial event everyday: planetary scientist

Bethany Ehlmann, a professor of planetary science at Caltech, has said that  eclipses are visible every single day on Mars. Three eclipses occur on the planet everyday, the scientist told CNN.

5:21pm GMT — US: Partial eclipse is here

The partial Solar Eclipse is starting in southern Texas near Eagle Pass on the southern border with Mexico, CNN reports.

5:00pm GMT — Solar Eclipse lands in Mexico

Some people in Mexico are finally able to see the Solar Eclipse. It has partially reached land now and the total show will be seen in a few moments.

4:43pm GMT — Big tourism boost

Travel data firm AirDNA shows that people have booked rooms in accommodations in path of totality, BBC reported.

“Airbnb listings have seen occupancy levels skyrocket to nearly 90%,” the vacation rental company said.

3:45pm GMT — Quebec sees sunny skies ahead of the eclipse

Quebec is saying a glorious sunny morning, where the path of totality will pass at 15:26 local time (20:26 BST).

With many schools closed because the moment of darkness coincides with going home time, the Solar Eclipse will be a family affair across this part of Canada, according to BBC.

3:12pm GMT — When can you see Solar Eclipse in Missouri?

The Solar Eclipse 2024 will commence in St Louis, Missouri at around 12:42pm, as not all areas of the state fall under the path of totality. St Louis will see partial the Solar Eclipse.

The duration of the event depends on the area as the longest is 4 minutes 28 seconds. Red Bud, Illinois, will see a Total Solar Eclipse for about a minute. In Perryville, Missouri, it is expected that the totality can be observed for around three minutes and 45 seconds. Read more here.

3:10pm GMT — Where can you view Solar Eclipse in New York?

Among other cities, New York City is not on the path of totality however, the residents will partially see the eclipse just after 2pm Monday.

Weather experts have suggested that in the areas where the total eclipse will occur, there are chances of rain, such as in Texas, Oklahoma, southern Arkansas, Ohio, northwestern Pennsylvania, and western New York. Read more here.

2:38pm GMT — Best place to see Total Solar Eclipse

Situated in South Texas, the Amistad National Recreation Area is one of the rare National Park Service locations that falls squarely within the eclipse's totality path. Additionally, due to its proximity to the US-Mexico border, travellers will be able to witness the Total Solar Eclipse before the majority of the country.

Days before advance, many began to camp out to guarantee a space.

12:55pm GMT — Total Solar Eclipse to affect US cellular services

The rare total solar eclipse which, is anticipated to be witnessed by 35 million people, will be the most watched eclipse ever, as darkness envelops millions of North Americans on Monday (April 8), CNN reported.

However, cellular services may take the hit as millions use phone to click pictures or record the moment.

Network providers and government authorities say they are bracing for sharp spikes in traffic on cellular and Wi-Fi networks throughout cities and towns, as herds of eclipse-seekers put pressure on the major providers that maintain network connectivity. Read more here.

12:20pm GMT — Can Solar Eclipse blind you?

The dangers of staring into the sun during a solar eclipse have even showed in movies in like the 2009 film "2012," and colonial times, in which a sailor went blind after watching a partial eclipse, or even cases in modern times like the one reported by USA Today.

One of the ophthalmologists met a terrible case, in which a young woman, aged 26 years old, was suffering in 2017.

Although she was unaware of it, she had placed the solar eclipse glasses on and as a consequence, the eclipse's imprint was a permanent characteristic of her eyes. 

11:35am GMT — This is how long the Total Solar Eclipse will last

From the moment the Moon first begins to cover the Sun, until the time it crosses past the Sun and stops obscuring it, a Total Solar Eclipse can last between two to three hours.

However, the period of totality in most places this year will last only between three and a half to four minutes, according to Al Jazeera.

While totality will last for shorter periods of time in areas farther from the centreline, areas on and very close to the centreline will experience the longest period of totality. Read more here.

11:07am GMT — US volunteers to help Nasa collect Solar Eclipse data

Observations from the public on animal behaviors as well as human reactions to the eclipse through written multisensory reports will be collected by Nasa’s Eclipse Soundscapes Project.

This will include what the observer saw, heard or felt as well as audio recordings of the environment during the solar event, according to CNN.

“Total solar eclipses are infrequent events that provide scientists with rare opportunities to collect data on behavioral responses to the phenomenon,” said Kelsey Perrett, communications coordinator for the Eclipse Soundscapes Project.

“Nearly, 2,500 people have already signed up for the Nasa project, she added. “When it comes to data, it’s the more the merrier. The more people who participate, the better we can answer our questions about how solar eclipses impact life on Earth.”

More to follow...