INGRAM, United States: A wave of eclipse mania is sweeping across North America as anticipation builds for a rare celestial event on Monday, blending commerce, science, and celebration.
The Moon’s shadow is set to make landfall on Mexico’s Pacific coast at 2:07 pm ET (1807 GMT), before racing northeast across a 15-state swath of the United States and onward to Canada, exiting the continent over Newfoundland approximately an hour and a half later.
Festivals, viewing parties, and even a mass wedding are planned along the eclipse’s “path of totality,” where the Moon will completely obscure the Sun’s light for up to a few minutes—assuming rain clouds don’t interfere, particularly in the southern and central US.
“Eclipses have a special power,” remarked NASA administrator Bill Nelson, highlighting the event’s capacity to inspire awe and reverence for the universe’s beauty.
This year’s path of totality spans 115 miles (185 kilometers) wide and encompasses nearly 32 million Americans, with an additional 150 million residing less than 200 miles from the strip. Even those farther away can experience a partial eclipse or tune into NASA’s webcast.
The next total solar eclipse visible from a large portion of North America won’t occur until 2044.
Businesses are capitalizing on the excitement with special events, and hotels and short-term rentals in prime viewing locations have been fully booked for months.
At Stonehenge II park in Ingram, Texas—a replica of the famed English structure—eclipse enthusiasts from around the globe gathered in anticipation.
“This is our third solar eclipse,” shared 62-year-old attendee Jim Saltigerald, expressing hope for clear skies to witness the phenomenon.
In Cleveland, where officials expect 200,000 visitors, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is hosting a four-day “Solarfest” featuring live music.
Meanwhile, in Russellville, Arkansas, 300 couples are poised to exchange vows at the “A Total Eclipse of the Heart” mass wedding, symbolized by the “thin circle of light around the moon resembling a huge wedding ring in the sky!” according to the event’s website.
Many schools along the eclipse path will close or dismiss students early.
Several airlines have advertised flights scheduled to pass under the eclipse path, with Delta arranging two special trips.
The Perryman Group estimates that this year’s eclipse could yield direct and indirect economic impacts totaling $6 billion.
Amid the festivities, NASA plans to launch a trio of sounding rockets to study changes in the ionosphere and the Sun’s corona during and after the eclipse, offering valuable scientific insights.
Past eclipses have revealed surprising animal behaviors, with giraffes galloping and roosters and crickets becoming vocal.
NASA invites the public to contribute to eclipse research through its citizen-science project Eclipse Soundscapes.
Safety remains paramount, with authorities emphasizing the use of certified eclipse glasses to prevent eye damage.
Only those within the path of totality can safely view the eclipse without eye protection, but caution is urged to ensure safe viewing practices.
