No amount of clouds could keep Philly from enjoying at least a partial solar eclipse earlier today. It was the first total eclipse of the sun visible in the United States in 99 years.
Crowds gathered around places like the Franklin Institute and simply in the streets all around Philly to watch the celestial event, which started around 1:21 p.m. Maximum coverage of 79.9 percent began at 2:44 p.m.
After months of waiting, the total solar eclipse lasted roughly two minutes. (Here are scenes from towns that were in the path of totality.)
So what did the highly-anticipated event look like in Philly? It looked like a crescent moon peeking through the clouds.
Here are some scenes from today’s rare solar eclipse, beginning with NB10’s live-time capture of the point of maximum coverage at 2:44 p.m.
#SolarEclipse2017 has reached its max over Philly. Here is the moment it happened: https://t.co/dqZONkrum5 ☀️ pic.twitter.com/u4I7IWj4XB
— NBC10 Philadelphia (@NBCPhiladelphia) August 21, 2017
The Franklin Institute was on its solar eclipse watch well in advance of the big event.
Mayor Jim Kenney got a good view from City Hall, too (best caption, ever?).
Some folks at the Wagner Institute got creative with their special viewing equipment.
Psyched to be at the @TheFranklin watching the #SolarEclipse this close to science. #philly #EclipseAction pic.twitter.com/ZW7vDPluw5
— Green Philly (@greenphillyblog) August 21, 2017
People just stop where they are to look #Eclipse2017 pic.twitter.com/7XP3C14AWW
— Pat Loeb (@PatLoeb) August 21, 2017
The Navy Yard hosted just one of the many viewing parties that took place all around Philly.
#SolarEclipse2017 viewing party at @NavyYardPhila at the Marine Parade Grounds. pic.twitter.com/cVGOr7P9vS
— Prema Katari Gupta (@premagupta) August 21, 2017
#eclipse streets pic.twitter.com/qZELy66wvh
— Jon Geeting (@jongeeting) August 21, 2017
Philadelphia pic.twitter.com/LFPOQXGXZM
— Beth McConnell (@BAMinPhilly) August 21, 2017
Dilworth Park in front of City Hall was also a popular place for people to catch the celestial event.
#SolarEclipse17 lunch break w/ a few hundred friends in a #Philly park. pic.twitter.com/x4UI0xJyrz
— Patrick Morgan (@PMorganPHL) August 21, 2017
So close, yet so far. #PhillyFromTheTop #SolarEclipse2017 #philly pic.twitter.com/l5nhLuVEXu
— Ben Franklin (@phillyfromtop) August 21, 2017