Solar eclipse 2024: Photos, videos from metro Atlanta view
People all across the United States looked up on Monday to witness the total solar eclipse that moved across the country throughout the day.
The path of totality, where the moon completely blocked out the sun, was 115 miles wide and cut diagonally across the United States.
EXPLAINER: The Total Solar Eclipse
12-year-old Nevaeh Wigley took these photos of the solar eclipse from Rome, Georgia. (Credit: Nevaeh and Angela Wigley)
The moon’s shadow moved across Mexico, then entered the United States west of San Antonio at around 1:27 p.m. local time, crossing Austin and Dallas. From there, it cut northeast through parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, then the northern portions of Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.
Projected path and time of totality for the 2024 total solar eclipse over the U.S. ( )
Although the path of totality only touched a relative handful of states, all 48 contiguous states in the United States saw at least a partial solar eclipse, which was also visible in Mexico and most of Canada.
Viewers in the path of the total solar eclipse, which is called the Great American Eclipse, likely noticed a drop in temperature, a change in the wind, the appearance of bright planets in the sky, and the quieting of birds and other wildlife.
Viewers in the path of the total eclipse with a clear sky likely saw a "diamond ring" effect a few seconds before and after the total eclipse.
Why is a total solar eclipse unusual?
It is unusual because the moon is about 400 times smaller than the sun, but it is about 400 times closer to Earth. It's also unusual because most of them happen in the middle of nowhere like the South Pacific or Antarctic.
The next North American total solar eclipse that will be viewable by a fairly large number of people will not happen until Aug. 23, 2044. There will be one in 2033, but only the residents of Alaska will get the chance to see that one.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT APRIL'S TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE
The next total solar eclipse that will span coast to coast will take place in 2045. That eclipse is expected to pass through southwest Georgia and more than 90% of the sun will be covered in Atlanta.
Unfortunately, if you live in Atlanta, you'll have to wait until 2078 to see a total solar eclipse in the metro Atlanta area.
One Roswell man was so excited to see the totality that he traveled all the way to Ozark, Arkansas to get a good look.
Josh Knutson chased the eclipse with his family, waiting for a gap in the spotty weather conditions to capture the once-in-a-lifetime experience.
He shared some photos he took with FOX 5 that show solar flares peaking out from behind the moon.
"The temperatures here fell almost 20 degrees in a matter of moments, and all of the wildlife fell silent leading up to totality. We had 3 minutes of totality from our position, and it was amazing," Knutson said.
He said the view was well worth the 10 hours it took to get there.
"The difference is like watching a cruise ship sail away from the docks versus being on the cruise ship," he said. "This is the last one in the U.S. for a very long time, which makes it extra special."
How long will it last?
In any given place along the eclipse's path, the event was slated to last around two hours or more. The time that the sun was completely blocked though was only a few minutes and varied by location. In some places, it may have lasted 4 to 7 minutes. In others, it only lasted 1-2 minutes. The same applied for partial solar eclipses.
How dark will it get?
During totality, the sky was almost as dark as night. Viewers may have seen wispy, white strings of light from the sun's outer atmosphere or a thin, reddish-pink circle around the edge of the moon.
For those not far from the path of totality, the moon appeared to block most of the sun and it became noticeably darker.
SEARCHABLE TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE MAP
If you are well outside the path of totality, a chunk of the sun was blocked. The farther away you are, the smaller the moon’s bite appeared to be.
Georgia was not in the path of totality. Viewers here only saw a partial solar eclipse.
What is the peak times for the solar eclipse in metro Atlanta?
The partial solar eclipse started at 1:45 p.m. in Atlanta. Maximum coverage occurred at 3:04 p.m., and it ended at 4:21 p.m. The moon covered 80 to 85% of the sun in Atlanta.
ALL THE METRO ATLANTA GUIDES
- What you need to know if you are in metro Atlanta
- Viewing parties in metro Atlanta
- Food, beverage specials for Great American Eclipse
- Closest places to Atlanta to see total solar eclipse
- How to throw a solar eclipse party
What will the weather be like?
Although a detailed forecast was not available, meteorologists released information on the probability of cloud cover along the path of the eclipse. For Atlanta, we weren't expecting much cloud cover at that time.
RELATED: Total solar eclipse forecast: Who has best chance for clear skies on April 8
Solar eclipse 2024: What you need to know
Do you have the right eclipse glasses? Will you be able to see the solar eclipse in Atlanta? What time is the solar eclipse? FOX 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Jonathan Stacey answers everything you need to know to enjoy the celestial spectacle on April 8, 2024.
Eye protection is a must
It is never safe to look directly at the sun during an eclipse, even a partial one. If you plan on viewing an eclipse, you must take precautions. Staring directly at the sun, even for a few seconds, can cause permanent damage to your eyes. Regular sunglasses are not considered adequate protection.
Cameras, binoculars and telescopes must also be outfitted with special solar filters for safe viewing.
RELATED: Total solar eclipse viewer using cereal box: How to build your own
Schools dismissed for the day
April 8 was the day most students in metro Atlanta returned from spring break.
However, the DeKalb County School District declared April 8 an independent learning day for students and school-based employees, meaning students stayed home to do their schoolwork there.
RELATED: DeKalb County schools closing for April's solar eclipse
The Cobb County School District announced that it would release its students early enough to see the eclipse on April 8. They made the announcement several months ago, citing safety as a concern.
OTHER SOLAR ECLIPSE ARTICLES
- What you need to know about April's total solar eclipse
- Total solar eclipse forecast: Who has best chance for clear skies on April 8
- AAA shares travel advice, safety tips ahead of April 8th
- FAA issues travel warning ahead of April's total solar eclipse
- Total solar eclipse viewer using cereal box: How to build your own
Atlanta Public Schools and schools in Decatur, Fulton, Gwinnett, Clayton, and others planned to operate on normal schedules. Clayton County Public Schools announced it would hand out protective eyewear to its students.
If you would like to submit information to be added to this guide, send an email with details to joyce.lupiani@fox.com.