Solar Eclipse 2017: Historic celestial event leaves United States awe-struck

The historic 2017 solar eclipse left all the enthusiastic star gazers in America awe-struck. As the moon blacked out the sun to sweep the US for the first time in 99 years on Monday, millions of people geared themselves up with protective glasses, telescopes and cameras.

This once in a lifetime event drew cheerful screams from the onlookers when the stars came out in the middle of the dayas the line of darkness raced 2,600 miles across the continent in about 90 minutes.

It was the most-observed and most-photographed eclipse in history, with many Americans staking out prime viewing spots and settling onto blankets and lawn chairs to watch, especially along the path of totality - the line of deep shadow created when the sun is completely obscured except for the ring of light known as the corona.

The shadow - a corridor just 60 to 70 miles (96 to 113 kilometers) wide - came ashore in Oregon and then traveled diagonally across the Midwest to South Carolina, with darkness from the totality lasting only about two to three wondrous minutes in any one spot.

This spectacular clestial event turmrd into the biggest livestream event of NASA's history with 4.4 million people watching its TV coverage midway through the eclipse.

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As per the safety warnings issued by NASA, everbody was warnedto not to look directly at the sun without appropriate protection except during totality as that could cause serious harm to the eyes.

"It's like nothing else you will ever see or ever do", said veteran eclipse watcher Mike O' Leary of San Dieoge.

The next toatl solar eclipse in the U.S. will be in 2024 and the next coast-to-coast one will not be until 2045.