As if a solar eclipse was not enough, the moon threw some virtual shade at the sun on Twitter on Monday, as millions of people watched the first coast-to-coast total eclipse in the United States in nearly a century.
‘HA HA HA I’ve blocked the Sun!’ wrote NASA Moon (@NASAMoon) on its verified Twitter account, which was created by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. ‘Make way for the Moon. #SolarEclipse2017.’
The tweet was accompanied with a screenshot photo showing that the moon had blocked the verified Twitter profile of NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun).
‘HA HA HA I’ve blocked the Sun!’ wrote NASA Moon (@NASAMoon) on its verified Twitter account, which was created by the NASA. ‘Make way for the Moon. #SolarEclipse2017,’ the Tweet read. The tweet was accompanied with a screenshot photo showing that the moon had blocked the verified Twitter profile of NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun)
The sun’s response was swift.
‘Uh EXCUSE me?!? #solareclipse2017,’ tweeted @NASASun.
Tens of thousands of Twitter users liked the exchange and many social media users responded with amusement.
After being mocked by NASA’s official NASA Moon Twitter account (@NASAMoon), NASA Sun & Space’s (@NASASun) response was swift: ‘Uh EXCUSE me?!? #solareclipse2017,’ tweeted @NASASun
Tens of thousands of Twitter users liked the exchange between the NASA Sun and NASA Moon Twitter accounts, and many social media users responded with amusement. ‘I feel the moon is gonna get some licks in but the sun is gonna come out on top,’ wrote a Twitter user, @GeeInTheNorth
‘This is just too perfect. Congratulations. You have won the entire internet,’ user Andy Stein (@MandoPony) replied.
‘I feel the moon is gonna get some licks in but the sun is gonna come out on top,’ wrote another user, @GeeInTheNorth.
Tens of thousands of Twitter users liked the exchange between the NASA Sun and NASA Moon Twitter accounts, and many social media users responded with amusement. ‘This is just too perfect. Congratulations. You have won the entire internet,’ user Andy Stein (@MandoPony) replied
Some users exacerbated the spat online, using GIFs of celebrities applauding and toasting to the moon, while some accused it of being petty and demanded that the sun respond.
Finally, NASA Moon tweeted: ‘Let the Sun shine. @NASASun, I unblocked you in the sky and on Twitter:) #SolarEclipse2017.’
After weeks of anticipation, the sight of the moon’s silhouette blotting out all but a halo-like corona of the sun drew whoops and cheers from onlookers when it began over the West Coast on Monday.
Finally, NASA Moon tweeted: ‘Let the Sun shine. @NASASun, I unblocked you in the sky and on Twitter:) #SolarEclipse2017’
The celestial event began in Oregon at just after 9am PDT, and by 10.20am, the sun was completely blocked out except for a halo-like solar corona plunging the area into twilight.
Over the next 90 minutes, the total eclipse traveled through 14 different states until ending in South Carolina.
The other 36 states were all treated to a partial solar eclipse, where the moon covers only a part of the sun.
Darkness swept across the US on Monday as the eclipse traveled from coast to coast, ending just before 3pm EDT in South Carolina (pictured, the total eclipse in Oregon)
A crowd gathered in front of the Hollywood sign at the Griffith Observatory to watch the solar eclipse in Los Angeles
WHEN WILL THE NEXT SOLAR ECLIPSES TAKE PLACE?
If you missed this year’s solar eclipse, you can see the next one in seven years.
The next US solar eclipse will take place on April 8th, 2024, passing from Texas to Maine, with the Canadian city of Montreal being able to see the totality as well.
Graphic showing the solar eclipses that will take place around the world between 2018 and 2040. The next US solar eclipse will take place on April 8th, 2024, passing from Texas to Maine, with the Canadian city of Montreal being able to see the totality as well
The next total solar eclipse after that will place at August 12, 2026, and will be seen from the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, Spain and Northeastern Portugal.
On September 2nd, 2035, a large number of people in China, northern Japan and Korea will witness a total solar eclipse.
Between 2023 and 2038, the greatest number of total solar eclipses will take place in Australia: There will be five solar eclipses visible from the continent between April 20th, 2023 and December 26th, 2038.
Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.