Solar eclipse: The 20 best photos from 2024’s celestial spectacle

Solar eclipse: The 20 best photos from 2024’s celestial spectacle

The most stunning images from the cosmic event of the century.

©Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Published: April 9, 2024 at 7:48 am

Eclipse fever has gripped large parts of Mexico, USA and Canada. Millions of people flocked to areas in the path of totality to experience this rare total solar eclipse, and festivals have been held in many towns and cities to celebrate this amazing natural wonder.

The excitement has been compounded by the fact that this total solar eclipse coincides with the Sun reaching its peak in activity during its 11-year cycle. This means that an increased number of spikes and outflows have been visible, making the spectacle even more dramatic.

The eclipse lasted 4 minutes and attracted an estimated 32 million lucky people who managed to see the whole thing from start to finish. The next total solar eclipse in North America won't occur again until 2044.

Take a look at some of our favourite images from the 8th April 2024 total solar eclipse and the celebrations that have taken place to mark the event.

Houlton, Maine

Man dressed as Moon and woman dressed as Sun.
Two runners participate in the Solar Sprint 3k on 7 April 2024 in Houlton, Maine, USA. The race is part of the town's festivities before the arrival of the eclipse. Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Man looks through giant eclipse glasses.
Visitors look through a pair of oversized eclipse glasses set up in the town square on 7 April 2024, in Houlton, Maine, USA. In the background, a statue of George Washington also wears protective glasses. Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Fredericksburg, Texas

People look at map on phone screen.
People browse updated weather reports ahead of the total solar eclipse on 7 April 2024 in Fredericksburg, Texas, USA. Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Sign with school closure eclipse message.
A sign displaying 'no school' is seen at Fredericksburg Middle School ahead of the total solar eclipse on 8 April 2024 in Fredericksburg, Texas, USA. Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Russellville, Arkansas

Man holds microphone and wears eclipse glasses.
A David Weigel, INTUITIVE Planetarium director at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, demonstrates how to wear eclipse glasses for the upcoming April 8 solar eclipse, at the Total Eclipse of the Heart festival, on 7 April 2024 in Russellville, Arkansas, USA. The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is the official visitor centre for NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images

Horseshoe Falls, Canada

People sat by waterfall with telescopes.
People sit next to the Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, on 8 April 2024 as they prepare for the total eclipse which will pass over the region. Photo by Geoff Robins/AFP/Getty Images

Mazatlan, Mexico

Smiling woman looking through telescope.
A woman observes the sun with a telescope ahead of this Monday's eclipse on 7 April 2024 in Mazatlan, Mexico. The last total eclipse observed from Mexico was in 1991 and the next one will be in 2052. Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images
Solar eclipse phases.
An image made of multiple exposures, showing the evolution of the total solar eclipse as viewed from the beach at Mazatlan, Mexico, on 8 April 2024. Photo by Miguel Martínez Corona/ObturadorMX/Getty Images
MAn with mouth wide open wearing eclipse viewing glasses.
A person enjoys the total solar eclipse at the beach on 8 April 2024 in Mazatlan, Mexico. Photo by Ulises Martínez/ObturadorMX/Getty Images

Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Total solar eclipse with big light beaming.
The Moon passes in front of the Sun during a total solar eclipse as seen from the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport on 8 April 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images
An airport seen during total solar eclipse.
A general view of the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport as the Moon passes in front of the Sun during a solar eclipse on 8 April 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images

Niagara Falls, Canada

Eclipse clouds and bird.
Conditions in Canada were cloudy during the totality, making eclipse viewing slightly more difficult. Here, the Moon crosses in front of the Sun on 8 April 2024 in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Photo by Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu via Getty Images

Torreon, Mexico

Total solar eclipse dark sky.
The Moon covers the Sun during a total solar eclipse on 8 April 2024 in Torreon, Mexico. Photo by Antonio Ojeda/Agencia Press South/Getty Images

New York, USA

Partial solar eclipse seen through spikes of the Statue of Liberty.
The solar eclipse passes behind the Statue of Liberty as the Moon passes in front of the Sun on 8 April 2024, in New York City, USA. New York only experienced a partial eclipse as it was not on the path of totality. Photo by Gary Hershorn/Getty Images
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Magog, Quebec, Canada

people on beach look up at total solar eclipse.
The Moon covers the Sun during a total solar eclipse in Magog, Quebec, Canada, on 8 April 8, 2024. Photo by Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images

Tijuana, Mexico

Eclipse seen on TV Screen.
A partial Solar Eclipse through a science viewing box organized by the Astronomical Society of Baja California at the El Trompo Interactive Science Museum in Tijuana, Mexico, on 8 April 2024. Tijuana only experienced a partial eclipse, but many people gathered to view this rare event. Photo by Carlos Moreno/Anadolu via Getty Images
Child wears black plastic sci-fi mask
A child looks toward the sky with a Kylo Ren helmet from the Star Wars movies, to observe the solar eclipse outside at the El Trompo Interactive Science Museum in Tijuana, Mexico on 8 April 2024. Vast numbers of people gathered to observe the solar eclipse at the border city. Photo by Carlos Moreno/Anadolu via Getty Images

Martin, Ohio, USA

total solar eclipse.
The Moon passes in front of the Sun during a solar eclipse on 8 April 2024 in Martin, Ohio, USA. Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images - ©Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Close up of total solar eclipse.
A close-up image showing the Moon passing in front of the Sun during a solar eclipse on 8 April 2024 in Martin, Ohio, USA. Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Indianapolis, USA

Total solar eclipse with bright ball of light.
The eclipse hits totality over the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, USA on 8 April 2024. Photo by Christopher Mark Juhn/Anadolu via Getty Images

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