Millions of Americans flock to see the "night in the middle of the day" scene

Early this morning (April 9), a total solar eclipse that started from the Pacific coast of Mexico, stretched across North America, creating an impressive display in the sky, attracting millions of observers.

For many Americans, this is the last chance to see a special total solar eclipse. According to NASA, the next one will not take place on US soil until August 2044.

According to CNN, the solar eclipse swept across three countries including Mexico, the US and Canada, attracting an unprecedented audience of hundreds of millions of people.

People gather on the National Mall in Washington, DC, to watch the solar eclipse (Photo: Kent Nishimura/Getty).

Crowds watch the solar eclipse from the Edge Observatory in New York City (Photo: Eduardo Munoz/Reuters).

According to NASA , a total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth. For a short time, it completely covers the Sun's surface.

The path of the Moon's shadow on the Earth's surface is called totality during its appearance on April 8.

To see all phases of a total solar eclipse, we must observe it from somewhere along the path of totality, NASA says. Observers outside this range will only see a partial eclipse of the Sun.

Special effects at the moment the Sun is completely obscured (Photo: Stan Honda/AFP/Getty).

For some people, a solar eclipse is more than just an astronomical phenomenon, but a time that marks important moments in their lives.

In the town of Russellville, Arkansas, 358 couples took advantage of this special moment to exchange vows in a mass wedding ceremony, called "Elope at the Eclipse".

Meanwhile in St. Louis, many people booked tickets months in advance to join the cruise ship named Tom Sawyer, and enjoy a unique scene in the middle of the Mississippi River.

A newlywed couple at a mass wedding in Russellville, Arkansas (Photo: Mario Tama/Getty).

Another couple prepares to board a hot air balloon to watch the eclipse (Photo: Mario Tama / Getty).

Many Americans are willing to spend money on hotels and motels to experience this amazing astronomical phenomenon at famous tourist destinations and natural wonders. Not only stopping at hotel rooms, expensive cruise vacations are also favored by the upper class.

According to Reuters, a cruise will take visitors from New York City, USA to Niagara Falls following the path of the total solar eclipse. The ticket price for this ship is approximately 4,000 USD/person (equivalent to nearly 100 million VND).

The moment the sun is about to be eclipsed above the Statue of Liberty, New York City (Photo: ABC News).

Solar eclipse in Magog, Quebec, Canada (Photo: CNN).

April 8 is also an extremely busy time for airlines in the US, when tourists are willing to spend thousands of dollars to "chase" the total solar eclipse, or in other words, to have the longest possible time to admire this amazing natural phenomenon.

These "eclipse flights" will be arranged with a fixed flight path and altitude. It coincides with the path of the eclipse in the North American continent, to help visitors have a continuous experience of observing this phenomenon.

Passengers on a special flight provided by Delta Air Lines (Photo: Leonardo Benassatto/Reuters)

People in Niagara Falls, USA gathered on a sightseeing boat to break the Guinness World Record for the largest group of people dressed as the sun (Photo: Jenna Zucker/Reuters).

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/khoa-hoc-cong-nghe/hang-trieu-nguoi-my-do-xo-di-xem-canh-dem-giua-ban-ngay-20240409093906096.htm