The " eclipse of the century " occurred this morning . More than 40 million people saw the moon obscure the sun along a 160-mile - wide swath from Hawaii to Mexico to Colombia . ; It still got dark below the mountain, but the clouds disappointed about 500 people gathered on the driving range at the Mauna Lani resort in south Kohala. Clouds diminished the view for many . The total eclipse lasted more than six minutes . Another to last as long will not occur for 160 years . Many maps were used to allow people to follow the moon 's path and see sunspots . In Hawaii , entrepreneurs sold almost all - imaginable souvenirs of the event , while every church held a nightly eclipse service . Guatemalan Indian villagers rang bells and banged pots and pans .
The " eclipse of the century " occurred this morning . More than 40 million people saw the moon obscure the sun along a 160-mile - wide swath from Hawaii to Mexico to Colombia . Clouds diminished the view for many . The total eclipse lasted more than six minutes . Another to last as long will not occur for 160 years . Many maps were used to allow people to follow the moon 's path and see sunspots . In Hawaii , entrepreneurs sold almost all - imaginable souvenirs of the event , while every church held a nightly eclipse service . Guatemalan Indian villagers rang bells and banged pots and pans .