Skies began to darken over parts of South America Tuesday afternoon during Earth’s only total solar eclipse of 2019.
It wasn't visible from the United States.
The eclipse made its first landfall in Chile at 3:22 p.m. in La Serena, a city of some 200,000 people where the arrival of more than 300,000 visitors forced the local water company to increase output and service gas stations to store extra fuel. Police and health services were also reinforced.
Droves of star gazers, scientists and celebrities like Richard Branson, Bill Gates and Bill Clinton were also expected to be on hand in South America for the eclipse.
The last total eclipse was Aug. 21, 2017, over the United States. It was considered spectacular and known as the "Great American Solar Eclipse." The next three total solar eclipses all take place in the southern hemisphere on Dec. 14, 2020, Dec. 21, 2021 and April 20, 2023.
The next total solar eclipse in the northern hemisphere will be April 8, 2024, with a very long path directly over the United States from Texas to New England. There will also be several partial and annular solar eclipses during the next five years.
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and sun, blocking the sun’s rays to the observer on the ground. The skies will turn dark, temperatures will drop and animals are known to act strangely.
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