Emotional sky-gazers stood transfixed across North America Monday as the Sun vanished behind the Moon in a rare total eclipse that swept the continent coast-to-coast for the first time in nearly a century.

 CARBONDALE, IL – AUGUST 21: The moon eclipses the sun above the campus of Southern Illinois University on August 21, 2017 in Carbondale, Illinois. Although much of it was covered by a cloud, with approximately 2 minutes 40 seconds of totality the area in Southern Illinois experienced the longest duration of totality during the eclipse. Millions of people are expected to watch as the eclipse cuts a path of totality 70 miles wide across the United States from Oregon to South Carolina on August 21. Scott Olson/Getty Images/AFP 

Eclipse chasers and amateur star watchers alike converged in cities along the path of totality, a 70-mile (113-kilometer) wide swath cutting through 14 US states, where the Moon briefly blocked out all light from the Sun.

Festivals, rooftop parties, weddings, camping trips and astronomy meet-ups popped up nationwide for what NASA expected to be the most heavily photographed and documented eclipse in modern times, thanks to the era of social media.

Whoops and cheers rose from the crowd as totality began at 1716 GMT over Oregon, and similar cries of joy erupted roughly 90 minutes later when the phenomenon ended at 1848 GMT in Charleston, South Carolina.

“It was incredibly beautiful. I am moved to tears,” said Heather Riser, a 54-year-old librarian from Virginia, sitting on a blanket in Charleston’s Waterfront Park where thousands had gathered on the grass to watch.

Crowds in Lincoln Beach, Oregon were first to witness the partial phase of the Great American Eclipse, from about 1605 GMT.

Just inland, more than 100,000 people gathered at Madras, Oregon — typically a town of 7,000 — in what experts described as perfect viewing conditions.

 MENAN, ID – AUGUST 21: Danielle Bugge (2nd L) prepares her camera to capture the eclipse on Menan Butte August 21, 2017 in Menan, Idaho. Millions of people have flocked to areas of the U.S. that are in the “path of totality” in order to experience a total solar eclipse. Natalie Behring/Getty Images/AFP 

In Los Angeles, “oohs and aahs” emanated from the crowd of thousands of people gathered at the Griffith Observatory in the hills above the city as the partial eclipse began.

“This is a once in a lifetime event,” said 42-year-old Chad Briggs. “We have to start eating salad and be healthy if we want to make it till the next eclipse!”

Many had hiked to the site to avoid massive traffic jams. Some watchers had fashioned their own pinhole projectors out of cardboard and scotch tape.

In Mexico, where there was a partial eclipse, astronomy buffs set up telescopes fitted with special sun filters in parks and squares in various cities.

“Put down your smartphone and experience this one emotionally, psychologically, physically, rather than just through the screen,” advised prominent US astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson.

In the US capital, where 81 percent totality occurred, President Donald Trump watched the partial eclipse from the White House with his wife Melania and son Barron.

At one point, Trump glanced skywards without protective eyewear — a big no-no, according to experts. “Don’t look,” an aide shouted to him. He later donned glasses.

Eclipse watchers flocked to Washington’s National Air and Space Museum, where solar telescopes were set up for the occasion.

The National Zoo staged a viewing party, and national parks across the country organized programs for children.

In downtown Charleston, the last point in the path of totality, crowds of tourists — some in special eclipse T-shirts and star-printed trousers — had staked out prime spots on the bustling city’s storied waterfront.

“It is very exciting,” said Kwayera Davis, 34, an adjunct professor at the College of Charleston who set up viewing telescopes.

One bar had installed outdoor speakers which blasted Bonnie Tyler’s mega-hit “Total Eclipse of the Heart” — which she also performed live on a cruise ship on Monday.

Many eclipse-watchers are overcome by emotion as the sky goes black, birds return to their nests and the air chills.

“It is such an incredible, sensory-overload kind of event,” eclipse-chaser Fred Espenak, a retired NASA astrophysicist, told AFP of the first total solar eclipse he saw in the United States back in 1970.

Experts warn that looking directly at an eclipse can cause permanent eye damage.

“The damage can really be permanent and right smack in the center of their vision,” said Vincent Jerome Giovinazzo, director of ophthalmology at Staten Island University Hospital, Northwell Health.

The only safe time to look at it is for those within the path of totality — and only during the brief moments when the Sun is completely blocked.

Everyone else should use proper solar eyeglasses, which are far darker than regular ones, or make a pinhole projector to see the eclipse while avoiding the glare of the Sun.

Cloudy weather and thunderstorms dashed viewers’ hopes of a clear view in some places, including Missouri.

Some of the clearest views were along the West Coast.

 MENAN, ID – AUGUST 21: A girl uses bespoke eclipse glasses to watch the eclipse on Menan Butte August 21, 2017 in Menan, Idaho. Millions of people have flocked to areas of the U.S. that are in the “path of totality” in order to experience a total solar eclipse. Natalie Behring/Getty Images/AFP 

Scientists planned to study the eclipse to learn more about the super-hot corona, or outer edge of the Sun.

Astronauts orbiting the Earth aboard the International Space Station were planning to document the eclipse, which they were in line to see three times.

“My first solar eclipse from space… We’re ready!” Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli tweeted ahead of the event.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General </s> Millions of Americans converged on a narrow corridor stretching from Oregon to South Carolina to watch the moon blot out the midday sun Monday for a wondrous couple of minutes in the first total solar eclipse to sweep coast to coast in 99 years.

Veteran eclipse watchers warned the uninitiated to get ready to be blown away.

Planetariums and museums posted "Sold out of eclipse glasses" on their front doors. Signs along highways reminded motorists of "Solar Eclipse Monday," while cars bore the message "Eclipse or bust."

A minibus parked in a designated eclipse viewing area is seen in a campground near Guernsey, Wyo., on Sun., Aug. 20, 2017. Reuters

With 200 million people within a day's drive of the path of totality, towns and parks braced for monumental crowds. It's expected to be the most observed, most studied and most photographed eclipse ever. Not to mention the most festive, what with all the parties.

In Salem, Oregon, a field outside the state fairgrounds was transformed into a campground in advance of an eclipse-watching party for 8,500.

"It's one of those 'check the box' kind of things in life," said Hilary O'Hollaren, who drove 30 miles from Portland with her two teenagers and a tent, plus a couple friends.

Astronomers consider a full solar eclipse the grandest of cosmic spectacles.

The Earth, moon and sun line up perfectly every one to three years, briefly turning day into night for a sliver of the planet. But these sights normally are in no man's land, like the vast Pacific or the poles. This will be the first eclipse of the social media era to pass through such a heavily populated area.

The moon hasn't thrown this much shade at the U.S. since 1918. That was the country's last coast-to-coast total eclipse.

Rick Roty works with his telescope in a designated eclipse viewing area in a campground near Guernsey, Wyo., Sun., Aug. 20, 2017. Reuters

In fact, the U.S. mainland hasn't seen a total solar eclipse since 1979 -- and even then, only five states in the Northwest experienced total darkness before the eclipse veered in Canada.

Monday's total eclipse will cast a shadow that will race through 14 states, entering near Lincoln City, Oregon, at 1:16 p.m. ET, moving diagonally across the heartland and then exiting near Charleston, South Carolina, at 2:47 p.m. ET.

The path will cut 2,600 miles across the land and will be just 60 to 70 miles wide.

Mostly clear skies beckoned along much of the route, according to the National Weather Service.

What people around the country can expect in their eclipse forecast

Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois will see the longest stretch of darkness: 2 minutes and 44 seconds.

All of North America will get at least a partial eclipse. Central America and the top of South America will also see the moon cover part of the sun.

NASA and other scientists will be watching and analyzing from telescopes the ground and in orbit, the International Space Station, airplanes and scores of high-altitude balloons, which will beam back live video. Citizen scientists will monitor animal and plant behavior as daylight turns into twilight and the temperature drops.

NASA's associate administrator for science missions, Thomas Zurbuchen, took to the skies for a dry run Sunday. He will usher in the eclipse over the Pacific Coast from a NASA plane.

"Can't wait for the cosmic moment Mon morning," he tweeted.

Melissa Howe displays one of her eclipse t-shirts designs in Guernsey, Wyo., on Sat., Aug. 19, 2017. Reuters

Near Victoria, British Columbia, where 91 percent of the sun will be eclipsed, science and math teacher Clayton Uyeda is planning to watch from a ferry along with his wife. He said he is "expecting to have a real sense of connection with the heavens."

He has similarly lofty hopes for his students if they can bring themselves to look up at the sky instead of down at their electronic devices.

Scientists everywhere agree with Uyeda: Put the phones and cameras down and enjoy the greatest natural show on Earth with your own (protected) eyes.

The only time it's safe to look directly without protective eyewear is during totality, when the sun is 100 percent covered. Otherwise, keep the solar specs on or use pinhole projectors that can cast an image of the eclipse into a box.

The next total solar eclipse in the U.S. will be in 2024. The next coast-to-coast one will not be until 2045.

Bill Nye the Science Guy on the solar eclipse

Monday's event will take place in the middle of the workday, which may cost employers as much as $694 million in lost productivity, according to global outplacement and coaching firm Challenger, Grey & Christmas, which analyzed wage and employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

States and cities in the path of the eclipse could suffer productivity losses of almost $200 million. Experts are warning businesses to expect increased absenteeism as millions of people are projected to travel to see the eclipse or take a break from work, which will cause productivity to plummet.

Even companies located in areas with a partial eclipse may have a "manic Monday." Challenger, Grey, estimates that the eclipse will cost the Chicago area $28 million, for example. Experts are encouraging employers to make the best of the situation by holding viewing parties and other team-building activities.

"A loss of productivity does not necessarily mean that good things cannot come out of this eclipse," said Andrew Challenger, vice president at Challenger, Grey, in a statement. "By considering how this event may impact employee morale, companies can turn this potential monetary loss to a gain when it comes to employee satisfaction."

CBS News will bring you live coverage with a CBS News Special Report beginning at 1 p.m. ET on Mon., Aug. 21, and you can watch the event on our 24/7 streaming service CBSN. </s> Alaska Airlines will be chasing the first coast-to-coast total solar eclipse in United States history since 1918.

On August 21, a special charter flight for select astronomy enthusiasts and eclipse chasers will allow passengers to see the eclipse from more than 35,000 feet above the earth.

The flight will depart Portland at 7:30 a.m. and fly off the coast of Oregon, allowing passengers on board to be among the first of millions to witness the eclipse.

Though the flight is invitation-only, Alaska Airlines is giving one person and a guest a chance to win a seat on the flight. The contest begins July 21 on Alaska Airlines' social media channels.

While the partial eclipse will be visible from all over North America, the total eclipse will only be visible from specific locations across the United States.

>>Related: These are the best places to see the incredibly rare Great American Eclipse coming this summer

The airline said flights to the prime Pacific Northwest viewing destinations of Redmond, Oregon, and Sun Valley, Idaho, during the week of the eclipse are already filling up. </s> A total solar eclipse will march across the United States on Monday, casting a shadow from Oregon’s Pacific Coast, across the U.S. heartland, all the way to South Carolina’s Atlantic Coast. Why is this eclipse so anticipated? This will be the first time in 38 years that the mainland United States will experience a total eclipse,… </s> SEATTLE, Wash. – Alaskan Airlines is offering a special charter flight to chase “The Great American Eclipse” on August 21, 2017. Eclipse chasers can experience the event from 35,000+ feet above earth.

The flight will depart Portland at 7:30 a.m. PDT and fly off the coast of Oregon, allowing guests on board to be among the first of millions to witness this phenomenon. The invitation-only flight is not commercially bookable, but Alaska Airlines is giving one lucky fan and a guest a chance to win a seat on the flight. The contest begins July 21 on Alaska Airlines’ social media channels.

Weather is the largest variable when it comes to eclipse-viewing, and the Pacific Northwest is more prone to inclement weather and overcast skies than other parts of the country. However, Alaska Airlines is making sure eclipse chasers on the West Coast have prime viewing conditions, above much of any potential weather or cloud cover.

“As an airline, we are in a unique position to provide a one-of-a-kind experience for astronomy enthusiasts,” said Sangita Woerner, Alaska’s vice president of marketing “Flying high above the Pacific Ocean will not only provide one of the first views, but also one of the best.”

“The Great American Eclipse” is the first coast-to-coast total solar eclipse in United States history since 1918. It will be viewable first from above the Pacific Ocean, before appearing in Oregon and following a diagonal path across the country to South Carolina.

While the eclipse will be visible from all over North America, totality will only be visible from specific locations across the United States. For enthusiasts looking to chase the eclipse elsewhere, the total solar eclipse is viewable within driving distance from the following Alaska Airlines destinations: Redmond/Bend, Oregon; Sun Valley, Idaho; Charleston; Nashville; St. Louis; Atlanta and Kansas City, Missouri. Flights to the prime Pacific Northwest viewing destinations of Redmond and Sun Valley are already filling up for the week of the eclipse.

At the request of eclipse-chasers in 2016, Alaska Airlines adjusted its flight path to optimize viewing of a total solar eclipse over the Pacific Ocean. With the previous eclipse, passengers aboard the flight from Anchorage to Honolulu were some of the last in the world to witness the total solar eclipse. In August, Alaska Airlines guests aboard the charter flight will be among the first to observe “The Great American Eclipse.”
• Get the gear: Watching partial stages of the eclipse requires eye protection. GreatAmericanEclipse.com provides official eclipse-viewing glasses, special for the upcoming event.
• Over 12 million people live inside the path of totality of “The Great American Eclipse.”
• As the eclipse continues its path across the country, the zone of totality will average about 70 miles wide. However, a large partial eclipse of the sun will be visible from most of the continental . </s> SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — Bay Area residents marveled on Monday morning as the Great American Solar Eclipse covered most of the San Francisco-area sun.

The eclipse, while not total in the Bay Area, created a dusk-like sky from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

The Bay Area didn’t get a full eclipse. It got about 75 percent of totality.

The nearest area where the eclipse could be seen for Bay Area residents was in Salem, Oregon. But it was still a sight to see locally, as some even stopped on Highway 17 in the South Bay to take in the eclipse.

Hundreds of people gathered at science centers across the Bay Area, like the Chabot Space and Science Center, to watch the eclipse and gain some insight on what’s happening.

Some even gathered at the Fremont main library to take in the eclipse.

“It makes us realize how small we are in the universe, and it’s happening right in our backyard,” Librarian Brian Edwards said.

And in San Francisco, the eclipsed sun broke through the fog to create a spectacle in the City by the Bay.

Some called it a mystical experience while others praised the power of science. Either way, the spectacle seemed to leave most pretty impressed.

Totality passed quickly in Oregon — just 1 minute and 43 seconds.

Total solar eclipses occur every year or two or three, often in the middle of nowhere like the South Pacific or Antarctic.

What makes this one so special is that it will cut diagonally across the entire United States.
• Missed the eclipse? America’s next one is in 2024

It’s been 99 years since a total solar eclipse crossed the country from the Pacific to the Atlantic.

WHAT OTHERS ARE CLICKING ON:
• VIDEO: SOLAR ECLIPSE MAKES ITS WAY ACROSS U.S.
• MISSED THE ECLIPSE? AMERICA’S NEXT ONE IS IN 2024
• TEEN WHO LIVESTREAMED CRASH: ‘I LOOK LIKE A HORRIBLE MONSTER’ </s> Aug 21 (Reuters) - Millions of Americans marveled at the first total solar eclipse to unfold from coast to coast in the United States for nearly a century.

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VIDEO > Americans get ready to view solar eclipse https://reut.rs/2iiJ0Ye (Compiled by New York newsroom; Editing by Bill Trott) </s> A total solar eclipse crossing the U.S. sky on Aug. 21, 2017 will be in peak view over Las Vegas, Nevada at 10:26 a.m. PDT. Viewers in Las Vegas can expect a partial view of the eclipse.

Type in Las Vegas or your exact zip code in the interactive below to see what to expect as the solar eclipse passes.

Watch TIME's livestream of the total eclipse beginning at 12 p.m. ET on Monday. </s> Today – August 21, 2017 – a total eclipse of the sun happens in the continental United States for the first time since February 6, 1979. In other words, the moon’s dark shadow hasn’t hit anywhere in the contiguous US or Alaska for over 38 years. It’s been a mighty long time!

Enter your zip code to learn how much eclipse you’ll see, and what time

How to watch the solar eclipse safely

How to know your eclipse glasses are safe

Looking for a solar eclipse viewing party? Try this page

In fact, it’s been over 99 years since the moon’s dark umbral shadow has traveled all the way across the mainland US from the Pacific Coast to the Atlantic Coast. This last happened on June 8, 1918.

Although totality begins at sunrise over the Pacific Ocean and ends at sunset over the Atlantic Ocean a little over 3 hours later, this total solar eclipse is only visible on land from the United States. But at any single spot along the total eclipse path, the total eclipse of the sun lasts for a maximum of just over 2 minutes and 40 seconds.

What to look for in a total eclipse

See 4 planets during the total solar eclipse

How astronauts aboard ISS will see the eclipse

Unless you’re quite practiced at using a telescope and have a proper filter, don’t even try watching the partial solar eclipse through the telescope. Your best bet is to locate an astronomy club or an observatory near you that might be hosting a public viewing of this natural spectacle. Find an astronomy club here.

You don’t need a telescope or an optical aid to view this eclipse, but you do need proper eye protection. Safely and inexpensively watch this partial eclipse with eclipse glasses, or make a simple pinhole projector to indirectly view the solar eclipse, as explained here. You can also turn the telescope or binoculars into a pinhole camera, to indirectly and safely view any solar eclipse.

As shown in the above photo above, trees serve as natural pinhole projectors, casting leaf shadows and images of the eclipse galore. When you see the scene for yourself, you may want to sing along with the Beatles:

We present some eclipse calculators, which will enable you to find out eclipse times in your sky. The US Naval Observatory and NASA give the eclipse times in Universal Time. You must convert Universal Time to your local clock time. Subtract 3 hours for ADT, 4 hours for EDT, 5 hours for CDT, 6 hours for MDT, 7 hours for PDT and 8 hours for AKDT.

EclipseWise gives the eclipse times in Local standard time, so if you’re on daylight saving time, you must add one hour. Timeanddate.com gives the eclipse times in your local time, so no conversion is necessary.
Millions of United States residents and visitors are able to witness a total solar eclipse that crosses through North America. It is the first total solar eclipse visible across the entire contiguous United States since the solar eclipse of June 8, 1918.