Readers Say

Photos: Here’s what readers saw during Monday’s solar eclipse

"I spent about half of totality shooting images, the other half marveling at the sudden darkness ... the amazed shouts of hundreds of people."

Boston.com reader Evan K. (@ep_kane) snapped a photo of a snowman wearing protective eclipse glasses during the 2024 solar eclipse near Mount Katahdin in Benedicta, Maine.

By Annie Jonas

3 minutes to read

On Monday, a historic solar eclipse swept across North America, casting huge parts of the country in darkness and bringing millions of people together for a moment of awe.

The 2024 solar eclipse’s path of totality — the viewing area where the sun will be 100% obscured by the moon – crossed 15 states, including Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. The partial eclipse in Boston began at 2:16 p.m. and reached its peak at 3:29 p.m.

The last time a solar eclipse’s path of totality crossed the continental United States was in 2017, and the next one won’t occur for another 20 years, according to NASA. The totality lasted longer than it did in 2017 and it took just under two hours for the moon’s shadow to cross North America.

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We asked our readers to send us their pictures of the solar eclipse and more than 50 Boston.com readers from across the country sent us photos from as far as Texas, Ohio, and New York, to Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. 

Readers snapped pictures from the Boston Harbor, the Framingham commuter rail station, mountaintops, parks, and backyards.

Responses have been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.

Readers share photos of Monday’s solar eclipse

Boston.com reader Evan K. snapped a photo of a snowman wearing protective eclipse glasses during the 2024 solar eclipse near Mount Katahdin in Benedicta, Maine. (Photo by Evan K., @ep_kane)
The 2024 solar eclipse as seen near Mount Katahdin in Bendicta, Maine. (Photo by Evan K., @ep_kane) 
Maragaret “Wheezie” G., 84, watched her first-ever eclipse from home. “The two questions she had were ‘What am I looking at?’ and ‘Why is it taking so long?'” Boston reader Michelle G. said. (Photo by Michelle G.)
The eclipse as seen in Sparta, Ill. (Photo by JD B. of Jasper, Alabama)
“I’m a science teacher at Cameron Middle School in Framingham. Although I missed the 100% totality of my hometown in upstate New York, I’m glad I got to experience this Great North American Eclipse in my adopted home state of Massachusetts (plus, it was cloudy back home anyways)!” Boston.com reader Andrew N. said.
Nicolas O. gazes at the solar eclipse on the Pierce School Bridge in Brookline, MA. (Photo by Brian O.)
The eclipse as seen from Propser, Texas. (Photo by Catherine D.)
“We had to make sure our Whoodle [a mix between a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and a Poodle], Rocky, was ready for the Eclipse,” Boston.com reader Steve P. of Ashland said. (Photo by Steve P.)
The eclipse as seen from the Boston Harbor. (Photo by Dianne G.)
Boston.com reader Emily T. took this photo on her iPhone 13 in Milan, New Hampshire during totality in someone’s field off the side of the road. “That’s a contrail to the south of the sun and to the right of that you can just barely see Venus. My favorite part about this photo is that the shadow of the eclipse can be seen crossing the sky,” she said. (Photo by Emily T., @resourceress)
Valerie T.’s grandsons watched the solar eclipse from Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Valerie T.)
Totality as seen from from Rangeley, Maine. (Photo by Erica F.)
“At the last minute I decided to bring along the camera gear I usually use for wildlife photos and was glad I did. I spent about half of totality shooting images, the other half marveling at the sudden darkness, the automatic lights going on around us, the temperature drop, the amazed shouts of hundreds of people,” Boston.com reader Geoff K. of Montpelier, Vermont said. (Photo by Geoff K.)
Moxie the wiener dog enjoying the solar eclipse in totality in Montpelier, Vermont. (Photo by Pat K.)
This composite image shows the solar eclipse at 96% totality in Southern Vermont, near Brattleboro. (Photo by Patianne S.)
“With a perfect bluebird day and spring skiing conditions, Cannon [Mountain] celebrated the 99.4% totality with a sold-out eclipse viewing event and concert. We are so grateful for the stars to align like they did!” Boston.com reader Sabastian W. (Photo courtesy of Cannon Mountain)
The Diamond Ring effect, as seen in Houlton, Maine, occurs as the moon makes its final move over the sun during the total solar eclipse. (Photo by William Z.)
The partial solar eclipse as seen in Arlington. “It got noticeably darker and cooler even with partial [eclipse],” Boston.com reader Thomas D. said. (Photo by Thomas D.)

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