Business News

What Americans—and one very responsible dog—looked like staring at the solar eclipse

When paper glasses just wont do.
When paper glasses just wont do.
Image: Reuters/Scott Morgan
By
Johnny Simon
We may earn a commission from links on this page.

As the great solar eclipse of 2017 moved across the United States yesterday, crowds congregated below to watch it happen. Some pilgrimaged inland to gather under the “path of totality,” where the sun would appear totally eclipsed. Meanwhile, in large cities like New York, Washington and Los Angeles, people in office buildings and on the street stopped in their tracks to catch a glimpse of a partially obscured sun.

While many tried to capture the perfect solar corona on phones and cameras, those images only tell half of the story. The rest of the once-in-a-lifetime spectacle can be seen on their faces, each turned skyward to see something amazing.

People watch the solar eclipse from the observation deck of The Empire State Building in New York City.
People watch the solar eclipse from the observation deck of The Empire State Building in New York City.
Image: Reuters/Brendan McDermid
Juventino Luna (R) and his son Jesus Luna watch the solar eclipse on the lawn of Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles.
Juventino Luna (R) and his son Jesus Luna watch the solar eclipse on the lawn of Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles.
Image: Reuters/Brendan McDermid
People watch the solar eclipse on the lawn of Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles.
People watch the solar eclipse on the lawn of Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles.
Image: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni
Rafi Davis, 7, of Sliver Springs, Maryland, watches the solar eclipse at Carhenge in Alliance, Neb.
Rafi Davis, 7, of Sliver Springs, Maryland, watches the solar eclipse at Carhenge in Alliance, Neb.
Image: Reuters/Scott Morgan
People use solar viewing glasses as the sun emerges through fog cover in Depoe Bay, Oregon.
People use solar viewing glasses as the sun emerges through fog cover in Depoe Bay, Oregon.
Image: Reuters/Mike Blake
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School student Daniel Jimenez looks through solar glasses as he watches the eclipse, Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, in Miami. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School student Daniel Jimenez looks through solar glasses as he watches the eclipse, Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, in Miami. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)
Image: AP Photo/Alan Diaz
People gather to watch phases of solar eclipse on the National Mall in Washington
People gather to watch phases of solar eclipse on the National Mall in Washington
Image: AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana
People watch the Solar Eclipse in Depoe Bay, Oregon.
People watch the Solar Eclipse in Depoe Bay, Oregon.
Image: Reuters/Mike Blake
Seventeen year-old Audrey Franklin (R) and her twelve year-old brother Wally, who traveled from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, watch the solar eclipse at the football stadium at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois.
Seventeen year-old Audrey Franklin (R) and her twelve year-old brother Wally, who traveled from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, watch the solar eclipse at the football stadium at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois.
Image: Reuters/Bryan Snyder
An enthusiast holds his dog Prince, who sports solar glasses, as they await a total solar eclipse from atop Carroll Rim Trail at Painted Hills, near Mitchell, Oregon.
An enthusiast holds his dog Prince, who sports solar glasses, as they await a total solar eclipse from atop Carroll Rim Trail at Painted Hills, near Mitchell, Oregon.
Image: Reuters/Adrees Latif
People look at the 360-degree twilight during the total solar eclipse in Guernsey, Wyoming.
People look at the 360-degree twilight during the total solar eclipse in Guernsey, Wyoming.
Image: Reuters/Rick Wilking
Viewers react to the total eclipse in the football stadium at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois.
Viewers react to the total eclipse in the football stadium at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois.
Image: Reuters/Bryan Snyder
The sun peeks through the clouds as people wearing solar glasses watch in Falls City, Neb.
The sun peeks through the clouds as people wearing solar glasses watch in Falls City, Neb.
Image: AP Photo/Nati Harnik
Priti Khandheria, right, and Zeest Tajik in Milwaukee.
Priti Khandheria, right, and Zeest Tajik in Milwaukee.
Image: AP Photo/Morry Gash
Henry Boritt in Indianapolis.
Henry Boritt in Indianapolis.
Image: AP Photo/Darron Cummings
A crowd gathers in front of the Hollywood sign at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles
A crowd gathers in front of the Hollywood sign at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles
Image: AP Photo/Richard Vogel
U.S. Navy sailors Soloman Rucker (Front) and Peyton Warner check the position of the sun on the flight deck of the Naval museum ship U.S.S. Yorktown in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.
U.S. Navy sailors Soloman Rucker (Front) and Peyton Warner check the position of the sun on the flight deck of the Naval museum ship U.S.S. Yorktown in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.
Image: Reuters/Randall Hill
A man vapes as he watches the solar eclipse from Clingmans Dome, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee.
A man vapes as he watches the solar eclipse from Clingmans Dome, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee.
Image: Reuters/Jonathan Ernst
Women view the solar eclipse through glasses and an iPhone at Times Square in Manhattan, New York, U.S., August 21, 2017. Location coordinates for this image are 40.7589° N, 73.9851° W. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton – RTS1CPPD
Women view the solar eclipse through glasses and an iPhone at Times Square in Manhattan, New York, U.S., August 21, 2017. Location coordinates for this image are 40.7589° N, 73.9851° W. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton – RTS1CPPD
Image: Reuters/Shannon Stapleton
Laura Witte of Ft. Collins, Colo., watches the solar eclipse at Carhenge in Alliance, Neb.
Laura Witte of Ft. Collins, Colo., watches the solar eclipse at Carhenge in Alliance, Neb.
Image: Reuters/Scott Morgan
Happy Haynes of Denver uses glasses as she joins others residents as they gather at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.
Happy Haynes of Denver uses glasses as she joins others residents as they gather at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.
Image: AP Photo/David Zalubowski
People watch the total solar eclipse from Clingmans Dome the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee.
People watch the total solar eclipse from Clingmans Dome the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee.
Image: Reuters/Jonathan Ernst