Total solar eclipse photos from across the U.S.
Monday's rare total solar eclipse passed across the U.S., turning the lights off as totality moved from Mexico's Pacific coast into Canada.
Why it matters: Almost everyone in the U.S. was able to see some part of it, and millions of Americans traveled to get the best view.
Catch up quick: 15 states were in the path of totality.
Flashback: Only two total solar eclipses have been visible from the U.S. during the 21st century.
The next total solar eclipse viewable from the U.S. is 20 years away.
Editor's note: This story was formerly a live blog and has been updated with developments and background throughout.
Eclipse weather: Cloudy skies forecasted
Cloudy weather overshadowed Monday's view of the eclipse for some of the U.S., according to the National Weather Service.
The big picture: Clouds had the biggest impact on views from Texas to southern Arkansas and parts of Ohio, northwest Pennsylvania and New York.
New England had the best chance of a clear view.
Eclipse food deals
Businesses are cashed in on the hype of the eclipse with specialty items and deals, Axios' Kelly Tyko reports.
Dig in: SunChips offered a limited-edition solar eclipse flavor online for the "4 minutes and 27 seconds of the solar eclipse's duration of totality," starting at 2:33pm ET Monday.
- Krispy Kreme's special Total Solar Eclipse Doughnut, which features a whole Oreo cookie in the center, was available through Monday.
- Sonic Drive-In has a new cotton candy and dragon fruit-flavored black slush, which the chain says represents the eclipse's "temporary darkness." It comes with free glasses.
Find more deals and special items here.
Don't wear eclipse glasses while driving
Transportation officials across the country warned: Don't stop on the highway to view the eclipse and don't drive wearing eclipse glasses.
State of play: Heavy traffic and delays were expected Monday as millions of eclipse chasers travel to get a good look at the sky.
Zoom in: Texas Department of Transportation officials say they have been planning for two years to ensure smooth and safe traffic flow, Axios Austin reporter Asher Price reports.
- In Ohio, more than 100 officers were be focused on Cleveland traffic Monday with several downtown streets closed to prevent traffic jams near hospitals, Axios Cleveland reporter Troy Smith reports.
Officials also urged drivers to turn their headlights on.
Some ride services also experienced delays.
- Uber reports an almost 300% increase in pre-booked rides with its reserve service, made over 72 hours in advance compared to last Monday, for rides in cities in the path of totality.
How to make a pinhole viewer
To view the eclipse safely without glasses, some people made pinhole viewing cameras to project the eclipse onto a small piece of card stock.
Why it matters: Staring straight at the Sun without proper glasses could damage your vision.
School's out, eclipse watching in
Many students across the nation have no school or shortened classes during Monday's event.
Zoom in: Some students in Texas participated in an eclipse viewing complete with learning activities focused on astrophysics, cosmology and space exploration, Axios San Antonio reporter Megan Stringer writes.
- Several schools, including in New Orleans and New York, bought eclipse glasses for students.
Storms threaten Texas eclipse parties
In Central Texas, possible thunderstorms threatened eclipse watch parties, Axios Austin reporter Nicole Cobler reports.
Organizers in Burnet canceled the Texas Total Eclipse Festival just hours before the solar event because of the risk of high winds, tornadoes and hail.
- The five-day festival, set to conclude Tuesday, brought tens of thousands of attendees to the small town.
Yes, but: The city of Austin's main eclipse viewing party at the Long Center was still scheduled as planned and public library branches were set to host their own viewing parties.
NASA studies eclipse with planes and rockets
NASA funded at least five research projects during the eclipse, Axios reporter Jacob Knutson writes.
Why it matters: The observations will help researchers understand the myriad ways the Sun influences Earth and the life upon it.
How it works: One project included taking pictures of the eclipse while flying NASA high-altitude research planes while another used three rockets launching in eastern Virginia.
Hundreds of volunteers across the country also conducted three citizen science investigations funded by NASA.
Go deeper: Here's what NASA will study during Monday's eclipse
A view from the start of the eclipse's American path
It was eerily quiet and empty — and unfortunately pretty cloudy — in Del Rio, Texas, near the U.S.-Mexic0 border, Axios San Antonio's Madalyn Mendoza reports.
Why it matters: It's one of the first American cities in the path of totality.
Bill Nye's eclipse viewing tips
Bill Nye — yes, the science guy — was in Fredericksburg, Texas, as part of the Planetary Society's two-day camping festival for today's eclipse.
What's happening: Nye, the group's CEO, spoke to Axios Austin's Nicole Cobler about what he's learned from watching other total solar eclipses.
- Stop and listen: "When it really goes completely dark, it's just amazing. The birds chirp; the crickets cricket. There's usually a bit of a breeze because the ground gets cool and then that cold air is squeezing the warm air up and makes a little bit of a breeze."
- Skip the selfie: "Try to be in the moment. Do not focus — pun intended — on taking pictures. Try to just really be there. It's cool."
- Look around: "And then if you have the presence of mind, don't just look up at the sky in the darkness. Look around. Just look at what everybody else is doing. And of course listen and feel the breeze."
Indy is ready to go
The skies were looking great in Indianapolis, where the official eclipse party downtown was packed by noon, Axios Indianapolis' Arika Herron reports.
The vibe: There was a yoga class going on, and a livery that's doing kayak rentals to watch from the river. It's perfect weather, hot and sunny!
Some eclipse rituals warn of looking
Members of the Navajo Nation treated the solar eclipse as a sacred time to stay inside and quietly meditate, Henry Fowler, a math educator at Navajo Technical University, tells Axios.
The big picture: For centuries, people have turned to rituals and mythology to honor and make sense of the solar eclipse, Axios' Carly Mallenbaum reports.
The Navajo traditionally don't look at an eclipse out of respect, Fowler says.
Context: In other cultures, there are stories that the solar eclipse is caused by a supernatural creature or monster swallowing the sun, James Deutsch, curator at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, tells Axios.
Read about more about eclipse traditions and folklore
Overheard at a coffee shop: "Make everything"
At the Beautifully Odd coffee shop near downtown Metropolis, Illinois, workers said they had been slammed by a rush of eclipse-fueled business, Axios' Adam Tamburin reports.
- "Just make everything, because we've been selling it all," one worker called out at midday.
Telescope ready in Austin
Brett and Leesha Baker peered through their telescope at Dick Nichols District Park in Southwest Austin. The pair traveled from Utah to experience their second total solar eclipse.
- "It's a full body experience," Leesha Baker recalled about the 2017 eclipse. "It's very humbling to have everything go dark."
Glasses on in Indianapolis
"It's like Woodstock for nerds," Eric Pueschel told Axios' Arika Herron.
- Pueschel enjoyed the view with Tiffany Bloomfield at Indy's eclipse event at White River State Park. They are from from Madison, Wisconsin.
- Other watchers looked up while riding in a swan boat.
Detroit's serving SunChips and MoonPies
Eclipse-themed snacks were part of a viewing party at Cullen Plaza on the Detroit riverfront near downtown, Axios Detroit reporter Annalise Frank found.
Tinfoil hats spotted in Indiana
In Carmel, Indiana, a woman made "locally sourced and made fresh to order" tinfoil hats for anyone who wanted one, Axios Indianapolis reporter Justin L. Mack found.
- "It's fun to be quirky. That's my thing. Have fun, and always have alien protection," said Jenny Winn of Indianapolis.
Lights off, lights on
Near Texas' Lake Pflugerville Park, a home's automatic evening lights appeared to turn on during eclipse totality, Axios San Antonio reporter Megan Stringer observed.
Eclipse love: Arkansas mass wedding
More than 100 couples joined a mass wedding in Russellville, Arkansas, to make a historic event even more historic.
Among them was Michelle and Randy Weller who kissed just before the total eclipse, Axios Northwest Arkansas' Worth Sparkman reports.
Busy Texas highway goes dark and empty
A view of downtown Austin shows an empty I-35 during totality, as viewed by Axios' Sami Sparber.
Even Chicago's dogs were ready
In Chicago, eclipse watchers — and their dogs — gathered at the Adler Planetarium, Axios Chicago's Justin Kaufmann and Carrie Shepherd report.
Indiana livestreams totality
Folks near a local brewery in Carmel, Indiana, gathered around a giant screen showing a close up of the eclipse while experts explained what they were seeing, Axios Indianapolis' Justin L. Mack reports.
Austin students cheer on the Moon
Students from Austin's Travis Heights Elementary and their parents cheered "Go, Moon, go!" as totality approached, Axios Local's Texas Bureau Chief Bob Gee reports.
The ring of fire was visible through the clouds, and Austin's iconic moonlight towers turned on during totality.
Florida to Texas
Sid Palmer, who has been preparing about two years for the eclipse, traveled from Jacksonville, Florida, to Del Rio, Texas, to watch the event, because cloud chances were the most favorable, Axios San Antonio's Madalyn Mendoza reports.
Clouds cover New Orleans' view
New Orleans was hoping to see 82% of the Sun blocked, but Axios New Orleans reporter Carlie Kollath Wells says she just saw a lot of clouds.
Missed the eclipse?
The next total solar eclipse that will be visible in the contiguous U.S. is Aug. 23, 2044, NASA said.
- It will only graze a sliver of Montana and North Dakota.
The next chance for a coast-to-coast view will come in 2045.
Between the lines: If you're motivated to travel, parts of Iceland and Spain will see an eclipse in 2026, Axios' Will Chase reports.
- This eclipse will occur Aug. 12, 2026.