As a total solar eclipse made its way across Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada on Monday, onlookers watched in awe, flooding social media with photos and images of the once-in-a-lifetime event.
Thousands eagerly gathered at various destinations along the path of totality, eager to witness the moon’s passage between the sun and the earth.
Spectators in southwestern Ontario, the first in Canada to witness the eclipse, watched from parks and stadiums, and workers left their desks to catch a glimpse of the event from outside their offices.
Moment of totality in Downtown Toronto. Barely a whimper from the quiet, professional white collar office crowd. <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eclipse?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#Eclipse</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eclipse2024?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#Eclipse2024</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/SolarEclipse2024?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#SolarEclipse2024</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/TotalEclipseOfTheHeart2024?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#TotalEclipseOfTheHeart2024</a> <a href=”https://t.co/R9ORr1A28l”>pic.twitter.com/R9ORr1A28l</a>
—@shalimar_street
In Hamilton and Niagara Falls, cheers erupted from the crowds as the clouds briefly parted, revealing the eclipse and causing a momentary drop in temperature.
The moment of the corona. Lots of “omigods” from the crowd at Bayfront Park. Total eclipse, totally awesome. <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eclipse2024?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#Eclipse2024</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/EclipseSolar2024?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#EclipseSolar2024</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hamilton?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#Hamilton</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ontario?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#Ontario</a> <a href=”https://t.co/r8cja7Ywf4″>pic.twitter.com/r8cja7Ywf4</a>
—@peterhowellfilm
Many things in the world are overrated. I think a total eclipse might actually be underrated. It was an incredible experience, unforgettable, strangely mysterious, truly magical. <a href=”https://t.co/0kpiufBEAE”>pic.twitter.com/0kpiufBEAE</a>
—@c_voelcker
In Toronto, some took to social media to express their disappointment as cloudy skies prevented a full view of the eclipse.
Bruh I can’t believe the weather was such a nasty bitch. So much eclipse fomo.
—@supersaadx3
The solar eclipse from Toronto <br><br>A truly historic moment. What a time to be alive <a href=”https://t.co/ukmApzePoB”>pic.twitter.com/ukmApzePoB</a>
—@Ash_Stewart_
Still, streetlights went on as the city went momentarily dark and the moon blocked 90 per cent of the sun.
Meanwhile, in Quebec, expected to have the best weather in North America for visibility, spectators were not disappointed, describing the event as “one of the coolest moments” of their lives.
Timelapse of the total eclipse from Magog Quebec <a href=”https://t.co/OtiXXphVUN”>pic.twitter.com/OtiXXphVUN</a>
—@jasonoyoung
Total eclipse over a frozen lake in Quebec. One of the coolest moments of my entire life <a href=”https://t.co/kOkvVtYk0V”>pic.twitter.com/kOkvVtYk0V</a>
—@a_guidarelli
In P.E.I., everything came to a halt as thousands watched from beaches and parks, with drivers pulling over to witness the darkness of totality hitting the western part of the province just after 4:30 p.m.
Perfectly clear skies here on <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/PEI?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#PEI</a> for the <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/eclipse?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#eclipse</a> – here’s a photo I took at totality. It is hard to describe the sense of awe and wonder I felt during this. An absolutely incredible experience. <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eclipse2024?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#Eclipse2024</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Nasa?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#Nasa</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Stormhour?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#Stormhour</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbcpei?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#cbcpei</a> <a href=”https://t.co/PJZTaQx0Je”>pic.twitter.com/PJZTaQx0Je</a>
—@DrummerBoy2112
The next total eclipse visible in Canada won’t be for another 20 years, according to the Canadian Space Agency, and will mainly be visible in the Northwest Territories and Alberta.
What to do with your eclipse glasses
Since 2008, Astronomers Without Borders has been accepting donated glasses and distributing them to people in North and South America, Asia and Africa who may not otherwise have a way to view eclipses safely.
The organization has partnered with the eyewear brand Warby Parker, which will be collecting used solar viewers at their retail locations until April 30.
Google searches for ‘eyes hurt’ spike
Not unlike the aftermath of past eclipses, Google Trends data shows that searches for terms like “eyes hurt” and “why do my eyes hurt” saw a significant spike on Monday, coinciding with the time the moon started to pass between the Earth and the sun.
But doctors say damage from the eclipse isn’t likely to cause pain or discomfort in your eyes, because the retina doesn’t have any pain nerves.
A 2023 article from the American Academy of Ophthalmology says that instead, you would notice visual symptoms within four to six hours, with some not seeing any symptoms for 12 hours.
Symptoms may include blurry vision, a headache, a blind spot in your central vision in one or both eyes, increased sensitivity to light, distorted vision or changes in the way you see colour.
