The best photos of the solar eclipse

This week, in case you missed it (but, really, how could you?), Americans were lucky enough to see our first total solar eclipse in nearly 40 years!

While stores sold out of eclipse glasses quickly, that didn’t deter people from across the country from finding a safe way to observe the eclipse, and of course, document it.

Let’s check out some of the most amazing captures of the Great American Eclipse:

1. Full Totality Video From NASA

It’s no surprise that NASA was the source of some of the most awe-inspiring shots of the eclipse, like this video clip, captured in Oregon:

2. Up Close And Personal

And this incredible view from the Solar Dynamic Observatory:

3. New Meaning To ‘Put A Ring On It’

A NASA engineer captured this great shot showcasing near totality:

4. Ring Of Fire

A photojournalist in Oregon captured this magical shot below:

5. Worth Traveling For

Maine-based photographer Jamie Walter drove to Illinois to view full totality, and are we ever glad he did.

6. We’d Say This Is A Framer

Space photographer Ben Cooper snapped this stunning shot in Wyoming:

Whether it was the International Space Station (ISS) or an airplane, when objects got in the way of the eclipse they tended to make pictures even cooler.

7. Space Station Photo Bomb

NASA shared this image, composed of seven frames, that show the ISS passing across the view of the eclipse.

8. Another View From Oregon

 

9. Can’t Beat This Background

Theme park Cedar Point in Ohio shared this awesome shot of popular ride Valravn with the eclipse in the background:

10. A Nod To Eclipse Glasses

Others got creative about capturing the eclipse through the lens of their glasses, like Twitter user Zach M. from Colorado:

11. Shots From The Sky

Those who were in flight during the eclipse shared these incredible shots from the sky:

12. Not A Bad View

RELATED: I Have A Headache After Looking At The Solar Eclipse—should I Be Worried?

13. Looking Up In Awe

Other cool shots captured were those taken of people gathered to view the event on the ground, like this group gathered in Carbondale, Illinois. Note to the guy in yellow in the upper left of this photo: Where are your glasses, man?

eclipse watching photo
Getty Images | Scott Olson

14. 7th Inning Stretch And View

And these Minor League Baseball players stepping out from the dugout to grab a view.

eclipse watching photo
Getty Images | Sean Rayford

15. Horseback Viewing

A mounted patrolman in Idaho paused to check out the skies.

eclipse watching photo
Getty Images | Natalie Behring

Humans weren’t the only ones out and about during the eclipse.

16. Gazelle Under Eclipse Shadows

The Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C., shared this photo of a gazelle chilling out under eclipse shadows.

17. Cat-Lovers Get In Some Eclipse Fun

And for the cat-loving eclipse fans out there, there was no shortage of cat-themed eclipse clips:

https://twitter.com/KFILE/status/899691202760638464

18. History Lesson

One of the widely shared posts from yesterday’s eclipse is a New York Times article from 1932 that mentions August 2017. The article notes that experts predicted the 1932 eclipse would be the best one until 2017.

The eclipse of Aug. 31, 1932, at which the chances of clear weather are about even, furnishes the last promising opportunity until Aug. 21, 2017, for American astronomers to gather the vital scientific information offered by a total eclipse, Dr. S.A. Mitchell, director of the Leander McCormick Observatory of the University of Virginia, has declared in his study of solar physics during the past decade, just published by the Columbia University Press.

19. Bonnie Taylor Singing ‘Total Eclipse Of The Heart’ Live

And what would a solar eclipse be without theme music? Bonnie Taylor treated Royal Caribbean cruisers to a rendition of her 1983 classic “Total Eclipse of the Heart” with DNCE. Tune in:

Plans For Next Time

If you watched this one at home or at the office, you’ve got until 2024 to make more epic plans for the next solar eclipse. It’ll happen on April 8, 2024.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYEzqO2huam/

Check out more cool shots on NASA’s tumblr.

And in case you are wondering, here’s how to know if you damaged your eyes during the eclipse. And if you had a headache after watching the eclipse, we have an explanation for that one as well!