**As partial eclipse begins in Mexico

Amateur stargazers and scientists have gathered to catch a glimpse of the total eclipse of the Sun later as it moves along a narrow corridor across North America.

People are congregating in key viewing spots in Mexico, the US and Canada ahead of one of the most eagerly anticipated astronomical events in years.

Large groups of people are gathering in the Mexican town of Mazatlan where the total solar eclipse is due to start later – at around 14:00 EDT (19:00 BST)

The eclipse will then move on to the United States and finish in Canada.

The Moon will perfectly block the Sun and the sky will go pitch dark for four minutes.

This eclipse is rare as it will cover several densely populated cities, with some 31.5m people able to see it, Nasa says.

The space agency will be conducting experiments, flying planes and rockets to study the sun’s atmosphere.

To enjoy the phenomenon safely, never look at the Sun with the naked eye, even with sunglasses on – wear solar eclipse glasses.

Meanwhile, a partial eclipse has begun in Mexico, and in about an hour, Mazatlán will be seeing the eclipse at its peak – full totality.

There is something quite poetic and romantic about Mexico being the first place where the total eclipse will be visible as it sweeps across North America.

This is a country whose ancestors were among the great sky-watching societies of the past, the ancient Maya and the Aztec informing much of their belief systems and religious practices from the stars.

There is ample evidence they knew about and could predict eclipses.

However, they were generally viewed as a sign of something terrible, of a clash between warring gods. The rituals to protect the people from the cataclysm in the skies included, in the case of the Aztecs, human sacrifice and the shedding of blood to restore balance.

There are few such fears today, however.

In fact, probably the biggest difficulty will be finding the special protective glasses needed to watch it safely – so many places have sold out.

Schools across the country are seeing this as an opportunity to provide a very practical astronomy lesson from the safety of the playground while others are taking their pupils to observatories and university campuses to watch it unfold.

Other schools have told parents that children can stay at home for the day if they wish to see the eclipse together as a family.

A special moment in Mexico, and one with a real connection of the ancient civilisations upon which modern Mexico was built.

Officials in Austin, Texas – a place where the unofficial city slogan is “keep it weird” – have been bracing for the possibility of solar-eclipse induced pandemonium for days.

On Friday, a judge in the state issued a disaster declaration for the county encompassing Austin – which lies directly in the path of totality.

The declaration requires residents hosting private watch parties with more than 50 people to fill out an online form, notifying the county.

Officials are seeking to control the chaos amid estimations that the town’s population could increase by anywhere from 100,000 to one million people.

“Traffic has been crazy all weekend,” Haley Ng, an Austin resident, told the BBC.

“There are signs on the highway saying ‘no parking for the eclipse,'” she said.

“People who couldn’t get hotels are sleeping in their cars.”

We’re still hours away from the moment of totality at Niagara Falls, but already Robert Wiltshire and David Blazina experienced a life-changing moment.

The New York City residents chose to get married on what they deemed the “perfect day” with their immediate family in tow.

They said they decided to push back their big day one week so it could coincide with this cosmic event.

“It makes it extra special and very memorable,” Robert said.

“People will ask where were you on your wedding day and you can say at Niagara Falls for the solar eclipse.”

Credit: BBC