Millions In the Path of The Total Solar Eclipse Witnessed Highly Anticipated Celestial Display

A total solar eclipse is a rare phenomenon and millions of stargazers worldwide descended on the cities within the path of totality in Mexico, North America and Canada.  Little Rock, Arkansas, claimed a prime viewing location in the 100-mile-wide swath of totality. As the moon began to cover the sun, work in downtown office buildings slowed down to allow time for the celestial display.

It was Malcolm Cotton’s first day on the job at The Design Group, a multicultural advertising and public relations firm.

“This is my first eclipse ever,” Cotton said. “I am a science geek … went to space camp and everything. Plus, the next one isn’t going to happen for another 20 years, and time is not promised so you have to embrace the moment.”

Cotton and his colleagues donned their eclipse glasses and joined the Eclipse Party at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center near their office where families with children kept their eyes trained on the sky while the moon slowly obscured the sun. A popular band, The Rodney Block Collective performed, and vendors sold plates with cabbage, baked beans and turkey legs as the day grew dimmer and dimmer, marking the moon’s encroachment on the sun.  

At Joseph Jackson’s food truck, hamburgers were requested as often as the glasses needed to see the eclipse.

He said, “Business is fantastic! This is bringing people together.”

As the midday sun disappeared, streetlights came on and day appeared to turn into night. The city’s skyline was dotted with the bright lights of its tallest buildings.

Frank Williams looked at his watch and noted, “It’s living up to the hype, and they’re on point with the time frame.”

In Russellville, Arkansas – about 60 miles from Little Rock – several hundred couples exchanged wedding vows minutes before the total eclipse. It was called “The Elope at the Eclipse” and made headlines around the world.

The time of totality lasted a few minutes and then as gradually as the moon moved between Earth and the Sun, it continued on its journey.

A solar eclipse occurs approximately every six months, but a total solar eclipse calls for a precise alignment because the Moon’s orbit is tilted at about 5 degrees to Earth’s orbit and its shadow usually misses Earth. There is also the Moon’s apparent size in the sky is also too small to fully cover the Sun.

More than 32 million Americans were in the path of totality. The next time a total solar eclipse won’t be visible from the contiguous United States until August 22, 2044, but totality will occur only over North Dakota, Montana and parts of northern Canada.