International

Solar eclipse starts on the US West Coast

Solar eclipse

August 21, 2017 | 07:34 PM
The sun rises behind the Solar Temple at Big Summit Prairie ranch in Oregon's Ochoco National Forest ahead of the total solar eclipse on Monday.
The moon has begun blocking out the sun's rays on the US West Coast, beginning a much-anticipated solar eclipse.People in Madras, Oregon, a town in the path of totality, could see a small piece of the sun's disc covered, images broadcast by NASA showed on Monday. The moon is passing between the sun and the Earth in a rare event that last occurred in the United States in 1979. The total eclipse - when the moon will totally or partly obscure the sun - will start in Oregon at 10:19 am.NASA says all of North America will be treated to the eclipse, but only a 100-kilometre-wide band will experience the moon totally blocking the sun."Anyone within the path of totality can see one of nature's most awe inspiring sights," NASA said on a special eclipse website.
August 21, 2017 | 07:34 PM