Dazzled Americans left in shade by first solar eclipse in a century

A “BEAUTIFUL” solar eclipse swept across the US yesterday for the first time in nearly a century.

The Canadian Space Agency described the initial glimpses of the first total solar eclipse to cross the US, from Oregon to South Carolina, in 99 years as “beautiful”, as Americans watched in wonder through telescopes, cameras and protective glasses.

US President Donald Trump watched from the White House alongside first lady Melania, while his daughter Ivanka and rock star Bruce Springsteen were among the excited big names who had tweeted advice that watchers should remember to wear their glasses when looking at the spectacle.

They saw the moon blot out the sun, cause a drop in temperature and turn daylight into twilight.

Totality, when the sun is completely obscured by the moon, lasted for around two minutes in each location along the narrow corridor stretching across the US heartland to Charleston, South Carolina.

Nasa Moon, NASA’s official Twitter account about Earth’s moon, said: “HA HA HA I’ve blocked the Sun! Make way for the Moon. #SolarEclipse2017.”

Gloomy skies scuppered the chances of many Irish people who wanted to see a partial solar eclipse yesterday.

The moon starts passing in front of the sun in the eclipse which was watched by members of the media at the White House, below. Right, the eclipse seen above Madras, Oregon. Photo: NASA via Reuters