A total solar eclipse is plunging the skies along a swathe of North America into darkness.

The moon will completely block out the sun for more than four minutes in some places along a path starting in Mexico and crossing through the United States and into Canada.

Millions are hoping for clouds to clear as they eagerly wait for the phenomenon to reach their location.

Almost everyone on the continent is guaranteed to see at least a partial eclipse – weather permitting.

Follow live:
Total eclipse begins as millions of stargazers wait to be plunged into darkness

Image:
A total solar eclipse is seen from Mazatlan in Mexico
Pic: Reuters

Pic: Reuters
Image:
Pic: Reuters

Mazatlan in Mexico. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Mazatlan in Mexico.
Pic: Reuters

The solar eclipse in Texas. Pic: AP
Image:
The solar eclipse in Texas.
Pic: AP

A gorilla sits in an enclosure as the sun returns at the Fort Worth Zoo after a total solar eclipse. Pic : AP
Image:
A gorilla sits in an enclosure as the sun returns at the Fort Worth Zoo after the total solar eclipse.
Pic: AP

People watch the partial solar eclipse as they gather on the observation deck of Edge at Hudson Yards in New York. Pic: Reuters
Image:
People watch the partial solar eclipse as they gather on the observation deck of Edge at Hudson Yards in New York.
Pic: Reuters

People use their mobile phones as the sky darkens during a total solar eclipse in Mazatlan, Mexico. Pic: AP
Image:
People use their mobile phones as the sky darkens in Mazatlan, Mexico.
Pic: AP

People watch the eclipse in Times Square Pic: Reuters
Image:
People watch the eclipse in Times Square
Pic: Reuters

A person watches the start of the eclipse in New York. Pic: Reuters
Image:
A person watches the start of the eclipse in New York.
Pic: Reuters

People hold their hands up to the sky, hoping the clouds will part at Dunkirk Lighthouse & Veterans Park Museum in Dunkirk, New York
Image:
People hold their hands up to the sky hoping the clouds will part at Dunkirk Lighthouse and Veterans Park Museum in New York.
Pic: Reuters

People use special protective glasses to observe a total solar eclipse in Mazatlan, Mexico April 8, 2024. Pic:Reuters/Henry Romero
Image:
People use special protective glasses in Mazatlan, Mexico .
Pic: Reuters

People dance next to models of the earth, sun and moon at Saluki Stadium in Illinois. Pic: Reuters
Image:
People dance next to models of the earth, sun and moon at Saluki Stadium in Illinois.
Pic: Reuters

Tawhid Rana hold his daughter Thia, as she views the sun at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Pic: AP
Image:
Tawhid Rana holds his daughter Thia, as she views the sun at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Pic: AP

Clouds pass in front of the sun in Eagle Pass. Pic: Texas Houston Chronicle/AP
Image:
Clouds pass in front of the sun in Eagle Pass.
Pic: Texas Houston Chronicle/AP

Pink flamingos move around their enclosure at the Fort Worth Zoo during a solar eclipse . Pic: AP
Image:
Pink flamingos move around their enclosure at the Fort Worth Zoo during the solar eclipse .
Pic:: AP

Ximena 7 and Magdalena Govea 11 wait at the Saluki Stadium in Illinois. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Ximena 7 and Magdalena Govea 11 wait at the Saluki Stadium in Illinois.
Pic: Reuters

People prepare their telescopes in Mazatlan, Mexico to observe a total solar eclipse.
Image:
People prepare their telescopes in Mazatlan, Mexico.
Pic: Reuters

Some of the 309 people gathered to break the Guinness World Record for the largest group of people dressed as the sun in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Image:
Some of the 309 people gathered to break the Guinness World Record for the largest group of people dressed as the sun in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.
Pic: Reuters

Passengers wear solar eclipse glasses as they get ready to board a plane en route to Detroit, Michigan
Image:
Passengers wear solar eclipse glasses as they get ready to board a plane en route to Detroit, Michigan.
Pic: Reuters

Tourists sit by the Horseshoe Falls ahead of the Solar Eclipse. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Tourists sit by the Horseshoe Falls ahead of the Solar Eclipse. Pic: Reuters

Map showing when the eclipse will happen across the United States
Image:
Path of the eclipse (UK timings)

Tamra Sylvester poses with a person dressed as a NASA astronaut during a total eclipse viewing event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway . Pic: AP
Image:
Tamra Sylvester poses with a person dressed as a NASA astronaut during a total eclipse viewing event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Pic: AP

Special protective glasses placed for people to observe the solar eclipse, in Torreon. Mexico. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Special protective glasses placed for people to observe the solar eclipse, in Torreon. Mexico.
Pic: Reuters

A person plays a guitar, as people assemble to view the partial solar eclipse over New York. Pic: Reuters
Image:
A person plays a guitar, as people assemble to view the partial solar eclipse over New York.
Pic: Reuters

A map showing parts of the UK that will be able to see a partial eclipse
Image:
A map showing parts of the UK that will be able to see a partial eclipse

Read more:
What can I see in the UK and when?
Experts debunk eclipse claims from conspiracy theorists
What are scientists hoping to learn from eclipse

Total eclipse promo
Spreaker

This content is provided by Spreaker, which may be using cookies and other technologies.
To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies.
You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Spreaker cookies or to allow those cookies just once.
You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options.


Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Spreaker cookies.
To view this content you can use the button below to allow Spreaker cookies for this session only.

Enable Cookies
Allow Cookies Once

Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts