Millions of people across Mexico, the US and Canada looked to the skies on Monday to witness a total solar eclipse carve a narrow path of darkness across the continent.

The moon covers the sun during a total solar eclipse across North America, in Magog, Quebec, Canada - 8 April 2024 (Stan Honda/Getty Images)

Its shadow first touched the surface of the Earth in the Pacific Ocean before travelling across Mexico, turning daylight into darkness as crowds watched on.

The solar eclipse is seen from Mazatlan, Mexico - 8 April 2024 (Henry Romero/Reuters)

The eclipse rolled over the border into the US and brought darkness to large areas of Texas, including the cities of Austin and Dallas.

Total solar eclipses happen about every 18 months, but they’re often in unpopulated or remote areas whereas this one passed over several big cities across three countries.

A bride and groom view the solar eclipse after marrying at a mass wedding in Russellville, Arkansas - 8 April 2024 (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

While neither Washington DC nor New York City were in the path of totality, both saw about 90% of the Sun covered by the Moon and plenty of people took to the streets – and skyscrapers – to catch a view.

People watch the partial solar eclipse on the observation deck of Edge at Hudson Yards in New York City - 8 April 2024 (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)


The Statue of Liberty is seen during a partial solar eclipse at Liberty Island in New York City - 8 April 2024 (David Dee Delgado/Reuters)

Many of those watching were treated to a breathtaking display of the Sun’s outer atmosphere, or corona, which is usually obscured by its own intense glare.

Some were even lucky enough to see a phenomenon called solar prominences extending from the Sun while it was behind the Moon.

A view of total solar eclipse in Mazatlan on the pacific coast of Mexico - 8 April 2024 (Jeff Overs/BBC)

Stargazers in Canada were the last ones to catch a glimpse of the incredible event before the eclipse crossed into the Atlantic Ocean and out of view.

The moon crosses in front of the sun during the eclipse in Lake Carmi, Vermont - 8 April 2024 (Noam Galai/Getty Images)


A view on the partial solar eclipse seen over the sea of clouds in Garafia, Canary Islands, Spain - 8 April 2024 (Miguel Calero/Shutterstock)