PanamaTimes

Friday, May 09, 2025

Total Solar Eclipse of 2021: 32 Million Witness the Mystical, $1.5bn Spectacle Sweep Across North America

A total solar eclipse, a rare celestial event, occurred on Monday, August 21, 2017, sweeping across North America.
Approximately 32 million people were in the path of totality, witnessing the moon's shadow cross the Mexico-Texas border and traverse 15 states.

The ethereal experience was denied to many due to low clouds and rain.

Those who saw it were treated to a remarkable and emotional display, with cities experiencing sudden darkness, a drop in temperature, and the stillness of twilight in the middle of the day.

The next solar eclipse of this magnitude in the US will not occur until 2044.

A total solar eclipse, where day turns to night and animals behave differently, is a mysterious and mystical experience according to Pam Melroy, deputy head of NASA and a retired astronaut.

This event drew in an estimated 4-5 million Americans to travel and witness it, making it the country's biggest travel day of the year with an estimated $1.5bn economic boost.

Many were up early to secure their viewing spots, and cities held watch parties and distributed free eclipse glasses.

Joe Biden from the White House also urged Americans to safely view the eclipse.

The Dallas-Fort Worth region in north Texas was a popular destination for the solar eclipse due to being in the path of totality.

However, cloudy weather caused last-minute changes for some viewers.

Despite this, many experienced clear skies and nearly four minutes of darkness.

A traveler from Lithuania, Ignas Barauskas, described it as "better than all expectations." However, the high demand led to expensive air fares, hotel rates, and canceled bookings being resold at inflated prices.

Several states and municipalities declared emergencies due to the expected large crowds.

The solar eclipse in North America occurred peacefully, despite warnings of increased terror threats.

Nasa live-streamed the event for those unable to view it directly or outside the path of totality.

The entire continent experienced a partial eclipse, with varying degrees of coverage depending on proximity to the center track.

Nasa conducted experiments, including launching rockets into the moon's shadow to study the impact on Earth's upper atmosphere and communications systems, and enlisted citizen volunteers to capture and analyze images of the solar corona during totality.

Additionally, researchers and volunteers observed animal behavior at several zoos during the eclipse.

A recent total solar eclipse caused various reactions among animals during previous occurrences, but zebras at Dallas zoo showed little interest.

The eclipse in the US in 2017 had an interval of only seven years, but this one had a longer track and wider shadow of totality due to the moon being closer to Earth.

The duration of totality was longer, with four minutes and 28 seconds in Torreón, Mexico, and between three and a half to four minutes in most places along the path.

The next total solar eclipse will be on August 12, 2026, and will cover large areas of the northern hemisphere, with totality limited to Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia, and a small area of Portugal.

On a specific date, the UK will experience a partial eclipse with over 90% coverage.

In contrast, residents of the mainland US will have to wait until August 22, 2044, to witness a total eclipse, which will be visible in North and South Dakota, Montana, and northern Canada.

After this, the next coast-to-coast total eclipse in the US will occur on August 12, 2045, stretching from California to Florida.
Newsletter

Related Articles

PanamaTimes
0:00
0:00
Close
Historic Papal Conclave Set to Commence in Rome
Huge Copper, Gold, and Silver Discovery in Argentina and Chile — But the Profits Go Abroad
Trump Rules Out Third Term, Names JD Vance and Marco Rubio as Potential Successors
Mexico Says ‘No’ to U.S. Troops: President Sheinbaum Rejects Trump’s Offer to Fight Cartels
Trump Shares AI-Generated Image of Himself as… Pope, Prompting Outrage Reaction
Amazon Launches Satellite Internet Service Amidst Competition with SpaceX
Transformative Changes in Women's Wrestling: The Rise of WWE Superstars
Brazilian Woman Jailed for Fourteen Years for Writing “You Lost, Idiot” on Statue During Protest
U.S. Economy Shrink in Trump’s First Quarter as Tariff Policy Raises Questions
Carney Secures Liberal Mandate in Canada’s Federal Election
Liverpool Clinches Record-Equalling 20th English League Title Under Arne Slot
Driver Ploughs into Vancouver Festival Crowd, Killing Nine
Depression, Fear of Defamation, and a Tragic End: New Details on Virginia Giuffre’s Suicide
Specialized anti-drone weapons deployed among security personnel Ahead of Papal Funeral
How do you fix this culture?
Corrupted from Within: How Deep State Power and Unelected Judges Hijacked Democracy Against the Will of the People
World Leaders Gather in Rome for Pope Francis's Funeral
Milwaukee Judge Arrested on Allegations of Aiding Undocumented Immigrant’s Escape
Pope Francis: head of the Catholic church who pushed for social and economic justice
Cultural Battles in the Vatican: The Candidates in the Battle for the Holy See and Pope Francis's Testament
Global Leaders Pay Tribute to Pope Francis Following His Death
Wild Chimpanzees Observed Bonding Over Alcoholic Fruit
El Salvador Proposes Prisoner Exchange with Venezuela Amid Deportation Controversy
US Government Defends Deportation of Salvadoran National Kilmar Abrego Garcia
A casino in Mexico burns at the hands of cartels
Pope Francis Makes Brief Appearance at Easter Sunday Mass
"Some complain that we put thousands in prison. In reality, we set millions free."
US Judge Blocks Trump Administration's Rapid Deportation Policy
U.S. State Department Raises El Salvador’s Safety Ranking, Making It Safer Than France and Other European Nations
U.S. and Panama Finalize Defense Agreements Amid Canal Access and Chinese Influence Concerns
China Stands Firm Amidst Trade Disputes with the US: A Factual Analysis
Helicopter crashes from the sky in NYC with four people aboard.
Spain Encounters Nationwide Demonstrations Amid Rising Housing Crisis
Alisha Lehmann's Modeling Campaign and Public Controversy Stir Debate Ahead of UEFA Women's Euro
Global Markets Dive as U.S.-China Trade Disputes Intensify
Tom Cruise Honors Val Kilmer at CinemaCon
OpenAI Attains Unprecedented $40 Billion Investment
Argentina’s “Magician” or a PR Illusion? “Individuals Are Sifting Through Garbage and Resting on the Streets”
Ecuador Gears Up for Influx of US Military as Measures Intensify Against Violent Drug Cartels
The Trump Administration Withdraws Legal Status for More than 530,000 Immigrants from Four Nations.
Deportation of Alleged Venezuelan Gang Members to El Salvador Raises Legal and Human Rights Concerns
Leaders of the US and Ukraine Hold Constructive Discussion During Ongoing Crisis
US Federal Reserve Revises Down Economic Growth Projections Due to Tariff Ambiguities
EU Charges US Tech Giants with Violating Digital Regulations
Trump Administration's Deportation of Alleged Gang Members Sparks Legal Dispute
Intense Tornadoes and Dust Storms Result in 33 Deaths Throughout Central and Southern United States
CK Hutchison, led by Li Ka-shing, encounters backlash from China regarding the sale of Panama Canal ports to a consortium led by BlackRock.
Meta to Introduce Community Notes Feature in March as Part of New Content Moderation Approach
Trump's ambassador nominee confirmed Canada's sovereignty during trade disputes.
The ICC’s retaliation on behalf of drug traffickers against Philippine President Duterte, who took a stand against them and shielded 100 million Filipinos from the drugs-death trade—overlooking the reality that every triumph carries its own price.
×