Close-up video of 'super rare' total solar eclipse in Mexico

Watch the total solar eclipse pass through the states of Ohio, New York and Maine (USA).

On the morning of April 8, people across North America from the Mexican coast to Niagara Falls on the US-Canada border turned their eyes to the sky to observe a total solar eclipse - an astronomical phenomenon considered "once in a hundred years".

Mazatlan, northern Mexico, was the first major city in North America to experience a total solar eclipse at 2:07 p.m. on April 8 (local time) and the phenomenon lasted for 4:28 p.m.

The shapes of the solar eclipse in Mazatlan on the morning of April 8. The moon is in a position to partially or completely block the light emitted from the sun. (Photo: Reuters)

Thousands of people packed the boardwalk, and sat wherever they could on Mazatlan beaches to watch the eclipse. Crowds cheered, clapped and whistled as the total eclipse occurred.

Mazatlan is just one of the areas in the central band of the eclipse, which is about 185 km wide and 16,000 km long, passing through North America and Central America. This means that astronomy lovers in Vietnam will not be able to observe this phenomenon.

After Mazatlan, the eclipse will continue to move across the US states of Texas, Indiana, Pennsylvania and New York. An estimated 15 US states will be able to observe the eclipse in a northeasterly direction for more than an hour.

This is the first total solar eclipse in North America since 2017.

Immediately after the solar eclipse appeared in Mazatlan, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez posted on social network X to thank him and his cabinet members for helping him and his cabinet members better understand this special astronomical phenomenon.

According to Reuters, President Lopez also went to Mazatlan to observe the solar eclipse in this city.

As the solar eclipse began to move towards major cities in the US, many astronomy enthusiasts were excited about this special event.

Total solar eclipse observed from Mazatlan city on the morning of April 8. (Photo: Reuters)

Countless eclipse viewing events were held at bars, stadiums, fairgrounds and parks in many US states. In Niagara Falls, people watched the eclipse next to the falls with hundreds of people dressed as the Sun.

The total eclipse lasts up to four and a half minutes depending on where you are. Some stars twinkle at midday as dusk falls suddenly, causing temperatures to drop. The eclipse also causes some birds and other wildlife to go quiet at times.

Eclipse fans have been travelling in hopes of catching a glimpse of the phenomenon along a central swath that stretches 4,000 kilometres from Mexico's Pacific Coast through Texas and across 14 other US states to Canada. The moon's shadow is said to leave the North American mainland in Newfoundland.

Lourdes Corro, 43, said she had traveled 10 hours by car to get to the city of Mazatlan to attend the event considered by many to be one of nature's greatest wonders.

“The last solar eclipse I witnessed was when I was nine years old,” said Ms. Corro.

However, unfavorable weather conditions also affected eclipse viewing in some US states.

About 32 million Americans live within the central band of the total eclipse. Federal officials estimate that an additional 5 million tourists will travel to major cities to view the eclipse.

Tra Khanh (Source: Reuters)

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