Seth Wenig, The Associated PressA partial solar eclipse appears over the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island in New York, Monday, Aug. 21, 2017.
Pete Marovich, Getty ImagesSolar eclipse watchers on the beach hoping to view the total solar eclipse if the weather clears on Aug. 21, 2017 in Isle of Palms, South Carolina. It's been 99 years since a total solar eclipse crossed the country from the Pacific to the Atlantic. Millions of people have flocked to areas of the U.S. that are in the "path of totality" in order to experience a total solar eclipse. During the event, the moon will pass in between the sun and the Earth, appearing to block the sun. Isle of Palms is one of last vantage points where totality will be visible.
Robyn Beck, AFP/Getty ImagesThe sun rises behind the Solar Temple at Big Summit Prairie ranch in Oregon's Ochoco National Forest near the city of Mitchell ahead of the total solar eclipse on Aug. 21, 2017. Skygazers across the United States awoke in excited anticipation Monday of witnessing the Sun briefly disappear, with the first total solar eclipse in 99 years to cast a shadow on the entire continent just hours away.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostThe total solar eclipse on Aug. 21, 2017 in Alliance, Nebraska.
Andrew Harnik, The Associated PressPresident Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump wear protective glasses as they view the solar eclipse, Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, at the White House in Washington.
Richard Vogel, The Associated PressA crowd gathers in front of the Hollywood sign at the Griffith Observatory to watch the solar eclipse in Los Angeles on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017.
Seth McConnell, The Denver PostMiles Thiry peers through a telescope at the sun during a solar eclipse viewing party at Colorado School of Mines on Aug. 21, 2017, in Golden. The Colorado School of Mines canceled classes from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday so students could take in the solar eclipse.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostDomenic Geboe looks at the eclipse as it goes into totality on the Wind River Indian Reservation on Aug. 21, 2017 in Riverton, Wyoming.
Robert Cohen/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via The Associated PressSaluki cheerleaders try out eclipse glasses that they were giving out to visitors to Saluki Stadium on the campus of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Ill., on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017. Scientists said Monday's total eclipse would cast a shadow that would race through 14 states including Illinois.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostThe total solar eclipse on Aug. 21, 2017 in Alliance, Nebraska.
Seth McConnell, The Denver PostStudents sit on a ridge as they watch the sun during a solar eclipse viewing party at Colorado School of Mines on Aug. 21, 2017, in Golden. The Colorado School of Mines canceled classes from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday so students could take in the solar eclipse.
Natalie Behring, Getty ImagesLocals and travelers from around the world gather on Menan Butte to watch the eclipse on Aug. 21, 2017 in Menan, Idaho. Millions of people have flocked to areas of the U.S. that are in the "path of totality" in order to experience a total solar eclipse.
Don Ryan, The Associated PressDan Blanchette and his son, Sam, 6, watch the final phases of a total solar eclipse in Salem, Ore., Monday, Aug. 21, 2017.
Mandel Ngan, AFP/Getty ImagesPeople watch the total solar eclipse in Charleston, South Carolina, on Aug. 21, 2017. The Sun started to vanish behind the Moon as the partial phase of the so-called Great American Eclipse began Monday, with millions of eager sky-gazers soon to witness "totality" across the nation for the first time in nearly a century.
Justin Sullivan, Getty ImagesA total eclipse with the 'diamond ring' effect is seen from South Mike Sedar Park on Aug. 21, 2017 in Casper, Wyoming. Millions of people have flocked to areas of the U.S. that are in the "path of totality" in order to experience a total solar eclipse. During the event, the moon will pass in between the sun and the Earth, appearing to block the sun.
Don Ryan, The Associated PressThe moon almost eclipses the sun during a near total solar eclipse as seen from Salem, Ore., Monday, Aug. 21, 2017.
Stan Honda, AFP/Getty ImagesA total solar eclipse seen from the Lowell Observatory Solar Eclipse Experience on Aug. 21, 2017 in Madras, Oregon. Emotional sky-gazers on the US West Coast cheered and applauded Monday as the Sun briefly vanished behind the Moon -- a rare total solar eclipse that will stretch across North America for the first time in nearly a century.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostThe great American eclipse on the Wind River Indian Reservation on Aug. 21, 2017 in Riverton, Wyoming. SERIES PHOTO
John Roark/The Idaho Post-Register via The Associated PressThe Sung family looks at the sun during the total solar eclipse over Idaho Falls, Idaho, Monday, Aug. 21, 2017.
Jeff Chiu, The Associated PressCoreen Abbott watches the solar eclipse from Bernal Heights Hill in San Francisco, Monday, Aug. 21, 2017.
Ron Garrison/Lexington Herald-Leader via The Associated PressMaliq Trigg, a senior at the new Frederick Douglass High School, took an iPhone photo through his safety glasses as he watched the solar eclipse in Thoroughbred Park, Monday, Aug. 21, 2017.
Ted S. Warren, The Associated PressThe sun is shown just before a total eclipse by the moon, Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, near Redmond, Ore.
Alex Brandon, The Associated PressProjected images of the eclipse is seen through the leaves on the trees on the sidewalk at the White House in Washington, Monday, Aug. 21, 2017.
Paul Sancya, The Associated PressPiper Truza watches a phase of a partial solar eclipse visible in Detroit, Monday, Aug. 21, 2017. Millions of Americans gazed in wonder through telescopes, cameras and disposable protective glasses Monday as the moon blotted out the sun in the first full-blown solar eclipse to sweep the U.S. from coast to coast in nearly a century.
Justin Sullivan, Getty ImagesTraffic backs up on I-25 leaving east of Casper on Aug. 21, 2017 in Douglas, Wyoming after the solar eclipse.
Joe Raedle, Getty ImagesPeople view the solar eclipse at The Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science on Aug. 21, 2017 in Miami, Florida. While Miami was not in the path of totality for the solar eclipse, around 77 percent of the sun was covered by the moon during the peak time of the partial eclipse.
Wilfredo Lee, The Associated PressBlake Davis, 10, of Coral Springs, Fla., looks through solar glasses as he watches the eclipse, Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, at Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Fla.
Angela Weiss, AFP/Getty ImagesPeople in a boat wear protective 'eclipse glasses' as they view a solar eclipse in Central Park on Aug. 21, 2017 in New York City. Emotional sky-gazers stood transfixed across North America Monday as the Sun vanished behind the Moon in a rare total eclipse that swept the continent coast-to-coast for the first time in nearly a century.
Inti Ocon, AFP/Getty ImagesThe sun as seen at 30 percent of the solar eclipse in Managua, on Aug. 21, 2017.
Daniel Brenner, Special to the Denver PostA woman looks at the the sun through a tree as it projects crescent shadows on the ground during the Great American Eclipse observation event Monday, Aug. 21, 2017 at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. There was a safe solar-scope viewing and an "Eclipsercise" where kids re-created the movements of the moon and Earth with their bodies.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostHumans and aliens gathered to watch the total solar eclipse, at Carhenge, on Aug. 21, 2017 in Alliance, Nebraska.
Inti Ocon, AFP/Getty ImagesStudents wait for the clouds to clear so they can view the 30 percent solar eclipse that was seen in Managua on Aug. 21, 2017.
John Locher, The Associated PressA person jumps off the top of the Stratosphere hotel and casino tower on the SkyJump ride during a partial solar eclipse Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, in Las Vegas.
Mark Humphrey, The Associated PressMark Renz, of Rochester, N.Y., sets up his Sunspotter, a device for viewing the solar eclipse, at his campsite Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, on the Orchard Dale historical farm near Hopkinsville, Ky. The location, which is in the path of totality, is also at the point of greatest intensity.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostAlice Baer, left, and her brother Bill, from Denver, watch the eclipse as it goes into totality on the Wind River Indian Reservation on Aug. 21, 2017 in Riverton, Wyoming.
Forrest Czarnecki, Rocky Mountain CollegianJack TenBarge, a sophomore at Colorado State University, watches the solar eclipse from the intramural sports field at Colorado State University on Monday morning.
Justin Sullivan, Getty ImagesA van displays a written message about the solar eclipse at South Mike Sedar Park on Aug. 21, 2017 in Casper, Wyoming. Millions of people have flocked to areas of the U.S. that are in the "path of totality" in order to experience a total solar eclipse. During the event, the moon will pass in between the sun and the Earth, appearing to block the sun.
George Frey, Getty ImagesMorgan Squires, a park employee waits to help park and manage cars as they arrive to view the solar eclipse in Grand Teton National Park on Aug. 21, 2017 outside Jackson, Wyoming. Thousands of people have flocked to the Jackson and Teton National Park area for the 2017 solar eclipse which will be one of the areas that will experience a 100% eclipse on Monday August 21, 2017.
Mark Humphrey, The Associated PressA family sets up a tent at their campsite at sunrise for the solar eclipse Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, on the Orchard Dale historical farm near Hopkinsville, Ky. The location, which is in the path of totality, is also at the point of greatest intensity.
Seth Wenig, The Associated Press
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A partial solar eclipse appears over the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island in New York, Monday, Aug. 21, 2017.
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By Glen Barber | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your player ready...
The sun and the moon completed an elegant dance step in the skies above America on Monday, and at Scotts Bluff National Monument in western Nebraska, the crowd burst into applause. In the span of a couple of minutes, as a fiery glow encircled the moon at the moment of totality, the sun seemed to set and rise again. The temperature dropped. Hues of orange and red rimmed the horizon then faded away. Stars emerged then vanished. The Great American Eclipse arrived as promised, and those both inside the path of totality and outside of it were not disappointed.
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