Solar eclipse 2024: Millions look to the skies to catch glimpse of cosmic phenomenon

Airbnb says almost 90 per cent of its listings on the eclipse's route have been booked as people travel to view the event

A composite of seven photographs showing the movement of the moon during the total solar eclipse as seen from Bloomington, Indiana. AFP

A woman looks through a viewing device at the eclipse on the observation deck of Edge at Hudson Yards in New York. Reuters

Members of the Cincinnati Reds use special glasses as they watch the solar eclipse before a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers in Cincinnati, Ohio. AP

Restaurant workers in Manhattan take a break to view the solar eclipse in New York City. AP

The Moon eclipses the Sun during a total solar eclipse as seen in Bloomington, Indiana. AFP

Visitors watch the eclipse move into totality in Bloomington. Bloomberg

Solar prominences during the eclipse as seen from Dallas, Texas. Photo: NASA

A statue of George Washington has been prepared for the eclipse in Houlton. Getty Images / AFP

The solar eclipse, as seen from Niagara Falls State Park in New York. AFP

The sky darkens at Niagara Falls State Park. AFP

A woman watches the total solar eclipse outside the Exploratorium in San Francisco, California. AP

An aeroplane flies past the total solar eclipse as seen from the Hoosier Cosmic Celebration at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana. Reuters

Spectators use special glasses to watch the solar eclipse near Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles. AP

The diamond ring effect as well as Bailey's Beads are seen as the Moon eclipses the Sun in Fort Worth, Texas. Getty Images / AFP

A man sets up his telescope ahead of the eclipse in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. The Canadian Press / AP

A woman looks skyward at the Edge at Hudson Yards observation deck in New York City. AFP

The total solar eclipse as seen from Eagle Pass, Texas. Reuters

Sun spots seen during the beginning phase of the total solar eclipse in Arlington, Texas. AP

A man and his daughter view the Sun through a telescope ahead of a solar eclipse at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indiana. AP

A Guinness World Record adjudicator poses with some of the 309 participants of the largest group of people dressed as the sun before the total solar eclipse in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Reuters

People gather at Niagara Falls State Park to view the eclipse in New York. AFP

A rainbow forms over Niagara Falls as people wait for the solar eclipse. Reuters

A sign near Niagara Falls warns drivers about the solar eclipse. Getty Images / AFP

A partial solar eclipse as seen from Mazatlan, Mexico. Reuters

An amateur astronomer prepares a telescope in Mazatlan. AP

A visitor adds a pin to a map displaying where eclipse seekers are visiting from in Russellville, Arkansas. Getty Images / AFP

A dog gets in on eclipse preparations in Russellville. Getty Images / AFP

People dressed as aliens walk through the main square in Houlton, Maine, ahead of the eclipse. Getty Images / AFP

Children eat ice cream in the village of Makanda, Illinois, ahead of the eclipse. Reuters

A sign in Fredericksburg, Texas, reminds parents and pupils that school is closed for the solar eclipse. Getty Images / AFP

People assemble to view the total solar eclipse in Eagle Pass, Texas. Reuters

Viewing sunglasses displayed for sale in Bloomington, Indiana. Bloomberg

A couple from Dallas prepare to view the eclipse near Ennis, Texas. AP

Millions of people in the US looked to the skies on Monday in the hope of seeing the total solar eclipse.

While not visible across the entire country, people in 15 US states were able to view the phenomenon, which first became visible from Mexico's Pacific coast.

In the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where residents could witness a near total solar eclipse, the spectacle was the talk of the town.

News outlets were focused on the weather, with regular bulletins – and to the disappointment of many, the forecast was cloudy.

At Salem’s Market and Grill in the city’s historic Hill District, advertisements taped to a wall near the entrance touted events around the eclipse.

Abdullah Salem, owner of the grocery shop, said his children’s school closed for the event.

“I won’t be watching it, though – I work seven days a week,” he told The National.

Hundreds of people descended on the hills of Pittsburgh’s Riverview Park before the skies the north-eastern US began to darken.

The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy ran out of glasses to give to people, but said many came with their own and shared with one another.

Matthew Leman, director of operations and visitor engagement for the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, said Riverview Park welcomed up to 500 people to view the eclipse.

“People have come from all over,” he said. "[What] we're here to do is to get people back outside again, back out and experiencing the parks.”

People of all ages looked to the sky and took photos, despite the cloudy weather.

It was an upbeat atmosphere, with music blaring from a solar-powered music system set up by Jerome Jones II of Zero Fossil, which offers event services powered by solar energy.

“Here in Pittsburgh, we're only at 98 per cent [totality], so we still get sun and solar power – so we're good,” he told The National.

Other residents were hoping for a break in the clouds when they gathered at eclipse parties across the city, including at Pittsburgh’s Allegheny Observatory and Carnegie Science Centre.

At the University of Pittsburgh in the city’s Oakland area, eclipse viewing glasses were handed out to students and staff.

Alexandra Weiner, who teaches mathematics, said she knew a lot of people who travelled north to Ohio to watch the total eclipse.

“I might go to Mount Washington later to watch it happen over Pittsburgh.”

The National spoke with Yao and Bernard, who were selling solar eclipse glasses at Schenley Plaza – and they said business was “awesome”.

“The weather is not perfect,” said Yao, but she expressed excitement at being part of something that won't happen again for many years.

More than 30 million people live in the path of the total eclipse, with millions more who travelled to cities such as Pittsburgh as well as Austin, Texas, and Indianapolis, Indiana, to witness the spectacular cosmic event.

Cities across Mexico, the US and Canada host more than 110,000 active short-term rental listings on the eclipse’s path.

Searches on Airbnb for stays along the route surged 1,000 per cent ahead of the event, the company said.

Airbnb added that almost 90 per cent of its listings have been booked.

Jefferson, Vermont, is the town with the highest occupancy rate, at 99.2 per cent, for its 512 short-term listings.

The eclipse is expected to generate $6 billion in economic impact, including $1.6 billion in spending by visitors, according to The Perryman Group consultancy.

The economic benefit in Texas, where 12 million residents live on the eclipse’s path, will reach nearly $1.4 billion.

Kyle Fitzgerald contributed to this report from Washington