Solar eclipse sweeps US, with some states in path of totality

People gather to watch a total solar eclipse across North America, at Stonehenge II at the Hill Country Arts Foundation in Ingram, Texas, on April 8, 2024.

This year's path of totality is 115 miles wide and home to nearly 32 million Americans, with an additional 150 million living less than 200 miles from the strip. The next total solar eclipse that can be seen from a large part of North America won't come around until 2044. 

A crowd of onlookers gathered in Arlington, Texas to watch the 2024 solar eclipse share the emotions they experienced. One spectator said they cried while another described it as "surreal."

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W. Va., looks up at the solar eclipse from the base of the Senate steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Monday, April 8, 2024. 

A jovial crowd of onlookers broke out into cheers as the moon eclipsed the sun Monday afternoon.

People look out towards Lake Erie and the horizon during a total solar eclipse under cloudy conditions seen from Dunkirk Lighthouse & Veterans Park Museum in Dunkirk, New York, U.S., April 8, 2024.

Flight attendants stand among a crowd of onlookers in Times Square while viewing the total solar eclipse above.

2024's spectacular solar eclipse seen near Cleveland, Ohio while tracking across North America.

City officials in Mesquite, Texas cheered as the thick clouds parted in early afternoon and the sun peeked out, with the moon already taking a bite out of it.

“We special ordered the sun this morning,” downtown development manager Beverly Abell told The Associated Press.

Hundreds gathered at Front Street Station for the outdoor watch party, many pulling out their eclipse glasses to watch the moon’s bite grow ever bigger.

At the Fort Worth Zoo, clouds occasionally moved over as the eclipse started. Zoo patrons stopped along the paths to take it in.

Todd Beeby, 34, drove up with friends from Houston. He said that even with some clouds moving over, the viewing was good.

“It’s kind of neat to see it roll in and out,” he said. 

A solar eclipse is drawing massive crowds throughout the U.S. Click here to see photos as Americans look to the sky to witness the event.

A total solar eclipse is expected to bring minutes of darkness to North America during the middle of the day on April 8, and it will likely be one of the most photographed events of the year.

Many Americans are already preparing to witness and capture the rare cosmic event, which some experts say won’t occur in the U.S. for another 20 years.

Since onlookers will only have a short time to capture the event, here are five tips on how to photograph the total solar eclipse.

This is an excerpt of a story by Stephen Sorace. Click here to read the full report.

People gather at Saluki Stadium, ahead of a total solar eclipse in Carbondale, Illinois on Monday, April 8, 2024. 

A total lunar eclipse has ended in Mazatlan, Mexico. Crowds could be heard cheering earlier along this resort city as the moon began to pass the sun.

Hundreds in a beachside park had passed the waiting time by readying their equipment and listening to a youth orchestra play Star Wars songs while a large screen projected images of Princess Leia behind them.

The eclipse is crossing North America, darkening skies along a path through Mexico, the U.S. and Canada.

A partial solar eclipse is now underway in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The total eclipse there will happen around 3:06 p.m. ET, according to Fox News Chief Correspondent Jonathan Hunt.

A partial solar eclipse is now underway in Kerrville, Texas.

The city is along the path of totality with the maximum eclipse phase expected to be around 1:30 p.m. local time, according to NASA.

New Hampshire State Police have released a video showing extensive traffic congestion as drivers are hitting the road ahead of the solar eclipse's arrival in the state.

"Aerial video from the #NHSP Special Enforcement Unit shows drivers heading northbound via I-93 and I-89 are experiencing delays from Hooksett through the Concord area," it said in a post on X.

The eclipse will be most viewable in New Hampshire between 3 and 4 p.m. local time, according to NASA.

The moon is currently in the process of passing in front of the sun in Mazatlan, Mexico, one of the first places along the path of totality.

NASA has launched a live stream covering the event.

Shocked motorists witnessed the horrifying moment a Long Island, New York, doctor fell out the door of a moving trailer, clutching the handle before losing her grip while on her way to watch the eclipse, police said.

New York state troopers wrote in a press release that the wind caused the door of the 2024 Airstream trailer to fly open on State Route 12E in Watertown, killing 58-year-old children's allergy and immunology specialist, Dr. Monika Woroniecka.

Troopers said the doctor was on a family road trip when disaster struck around 3 p.m. on Saturday. Her husband was driving the 2019 Dodge Ram pulling the trailer at the time of the accident. 

"Witnesses behind the Airstream claimed they saw the passenger side door of the Airstream open, Monika Woroniecka’s arm hanging on the door after the wind caused the door to swing open, causing her to be thrown from the Airstream," troopers wrote in their release.

New York State Police Trooper Jack Keller told Fox News Digital that the family was headed north to view the eclipse, and that Woroniecka's daughter and her daughter's boyfriend were in the trailer when the door opened.

She was flung from the trailer and struck her head on the shoulder of the roadway, police said. First responders rushed Woroniecka to Samaritan Medical Center's emergency room, where she soon succumbed to her injuries.

The White House has released a video of President Biden staring up into the sun while wearing eclipse glasses.

"Folks, enjoy the eclipse. But play it safe, don't be silly," Biden says in the video.

Biden added in a tweet to "wear protective eyewear."

The Missouri Department of Transportation says traffic along Interstate-55 heading out of the St. Louis area and toward the nearby path of totality for the upcoming solar eclipse is backed up for "about 25 miles."

"I-55 southbound is backed up to north of Meramec Bottom Road (mile marker 194) in St. Louis County for about 25 miles," it wrote on a post on X, sharing a traffic cam image of heavily congested roads. "All roads heading south out of St. Louis County and Jefferson County are experiencing heavy traffic, including Rte. 61/67 and Rte. 21."