A designated eclipse viewing area is seen in a campground near Guernsey, Wyoming, U.S., August 20, 2017. REUTERS/Rick Wilking
Millones de estadounidenses equipados con lentes protectores tomaban posiciones en una franja que cruza diagonalmente el país para maravillarse con el primer eclipse total de sol que se verá de costa a costa en casi un siglo.
Tras semanas de expectativa, la vista de la sombra de la Luna pasando directamente frente al Sol generará la mayor audiencia en la historia humana, según expertos, cuando se sumen los espectadores de redes sociales y televisión.
Unos 12 millones de personas viven en la zona de 113 kilómetros de ancho y 4.000 kilómetros de largo donde se verá el eclipse total el lunes. Además, varios millones han viajado a lugares en el área para tener una vista privilegiada.
Muchas personas llegaron hasta remotos bosques y parques nacionales de Oregón, Idaho y Wyoming, mientras que otros compraron entradas para ver el espectáculo en masa en un estadio de fútbol americano en Carbondale, Illinois, dos horas al sureste de St. Louis en automóvil.
En Carolina del Sur, las más de 16.000 habitaciones del condado de Charleston están reservadas, dijeron autoridades de turismo. La policía espera hasta 100.000 visitantes en el área el lunes.
El fenómeno aparecerá primero a las 10.15 hora del Pacífico (1715 GMT) cerca de Depoe Bay, en Oregón. Unos 94 minutos después, a las 14.49 hora del Este(1849 GMT), la totalidad se verá por última vez cerca de Charleston, Carolina del Sur.
La última vez que un espectáculo semejante se vio desde la costa del Pacífico a la del Atlántico fue en 1918. El último eclipse total de sol en Estados Unidos ocurrió en 1979. En otras partes de América del Norte se verá un eclipse parcial de sol.
A medida que la sombra de la Luna gradualmente tapa al sol, el cielo queda casi como un amanecer y se ven algunas estrellas y planetas. Cuando se completa solo la corona del sol queda visible en medio de la oscuridad. Esta etapa, que durará dos minutos aproximadamente en el eclipse del lunes, marca la fase mayor de la totalidad y es la única que se puede ver sin protección.
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Fotos Reuters
Cooper Jackson tries out his new solar glasses in a designated eclipse viewing area in a campground near Guernsey, Wyoming, U.S., August 20, 2017. REUTERS/Rick WilkingMelissa Howe displays one of her eclipse t-shirts designs in Guernsey, Wyoming, U.S., August 19, 2017. REUTERS/Rick Wilking NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.Sue Martindale displays an eclipse t-shirt for sale in Guernsey, Wyoming U.S. August 20, 2017. REUTERS/Rick Wilking NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.San Francisco Bay area resident Brian Martin photographs Painted Hills, a unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, in preparation for the total lunar eclipse near Mitchell, Oregon, U.S. August 20, 2017. REUTERS/Adrees LatifMichael Lee of Seattle, with camera in hand, walks past Cathedral Rock formation in preparation for the total lunar eclipse near John Day Fossil Beds National Monument in Kimberly, Oregon, U.S. August 20, 2017. REUTERS/Adrees LatifKC DeRemer fishes for bass while camping along the John Day River ahead of the total lunar eclipse in Kimberly, Oregon, U.S. August 20, 2017. REUTERS/Adrees LatifEnthusiasts camp in a field ahead of the total lunar eclipse in Kimberly, Oregon, U.S. August 20, 2017. REUTERS/Adrees LatifEnthusiasts walk past a vehicle parked at Painted Hills, a unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, in preparation for the total lunar eclipse near Mitchell, Oregon, U.S. August 20, 2017. REUTERS/Adrees LatifA sign promoting the solar eclipse is pictured as people drive into Madras, Oregon, U.S., August 20, 2017. Picture taken August 20, 2017. REUTERS/Jason RedmondA woman looks through a telescope on the football field at Madras High School the evening before a solar eclipse in Madras, Oregon, U.S., August 20, 2017. Picture taken August 20, 2017. REUTERS/Jason RedmondKen Spencer (R) of Buckeye, Arizona, assists people as they look at the sun through a solar filter-equipped telescope at the Lowell Observatory Solar Eclipse Experience in Madras, Oregon, U.S., August 20, 2017. Picture taken August 20, 2017. REUTERS/Jason RedmondLauren Coria-Avila and her daughter Sielh Avila watch the sunrise as they wait for the solar eclipse in Guernsey, Wyoming, U.S. August 21, 2017. REUTERS/Rick WilkingPeople wait for the solar eclipse as they watch the sunrise in Guernsey, Wyoming, U.S. August 21, 2017. REUTERS/Rick WilkingKeobs Avila (R) talks to Sielh Avila at sunrise as they wait for the solar eclipse in Guernsey, Wyoming, U.S. August 21, 2017. REUTERS/Rick WilkingScott Hall and Curt Lerner, from Sacramento, California, prepare to watch the solar eclipse in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. August 21, 2017. Location coordinates for this image are 39°9’55″N 86°46’24”. REUTERS/Harrison McClaryCurt Lerner, Steve Pate-Newberry and Scott Hall from Sacramento, California test their drone in preparation for the solar eclipse, in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. August 21, 2017. Location coordinates for this image are 39°9’55″N 86°46’24”. REUTERS/Harrison McClaryCurt Lerner, from Sacramento, California, prepares to watch the solar eclipse in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. August 21, 2017. Location coordinates for this image are 39°9’55″N 86°46’24”. REUTERS/Harrison McClaryA camera is mounted on a tripod in preparation for the solar eclipse in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. August 21, 2017. Location coordinates for this image are 39°9’55″N 86°46’24”. REUTERS/Harrison McClarySailors walk on the flight deck of the Naval museum ship U.S.S. Yorktown before festivities start for the Great American Eclipse in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, U.S. August 21, 2017. Location coordinates for this image are 32°47’26” N 79°54’31” W. REUTERS/Randall HillPeople check out the skies from an observation deck on the Naval museum ship U.S.S. Yorktown before festivities start for the Great American Eclipse in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, U.S. August 21, 2017. Location coordinates for this image are 32º47’26” N 79º54’31” W. REUTERS/Randall HillCandace Marz (Left) and her son Gabriel Marz, of Aynor, South Carolina and Jean Garrett of Pequea, Pennsylvania, wait under the wing of a F-14A on the Naval museum ship U.S.S. Yorktown before festivities start for the Great American Eclipse in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, U.S. August 21, 2017. Location coordinates for this image are 32º47’26” N 79º54’31” W. REUTERS/Randall HillA sign telling customers that solar eclipse glasses are out of stock is displayed at a store in New York City, U.S. August 21, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
