Total Solar Eclipse Draws Gasps in Northern Mexico
ByCarlos Rosado van der Gracht
Total solar eclipse complete with its crown as viewed from Durango México.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine
The skies went dark over the northern Mexican city of Durango in a spectacular solar eclipse at exactly 12:12 p.m. local time.
Several town squares in Durango were packed with locals and tourists alike in order to enoy the rare celestial event.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine
The 2024 solar eclipse began at 11:55 a.m. but the shadow cast on the earth started to become noticeable at 12:05 when temperatures suddenly began to drop and an eerie dusk overtook the landscape.
As the moon began to move across the sun's surface relative to Earth, it took ook the appearance of a crescent moon.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine
Though Durango is not known as a big tourism destination, the solar eclipse brought visitors from all over the world to the capital.
Karl and Joe Ruppert from Capetown South Africa pose for the camera right as the darkness of the eclipse began to be noticeable.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine
As the totality of the eclipse began to wrap up a phenomenon known as a solar diamond ring became visible, attracting oooohs and aaaahs.
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The diamong ring effects occuros over a brief moment during a total solar eclipse where sunlight peeks through valleys on the Moon's uneven limb, creating a series of bright points of light that resemble diamonds around the darkened silhouette of the Moon.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine
The next total solar eclipse visible from North America will be on Aug. 23, 2044.
The solar eclipse was also visible in the Mexican cities of Torreon and Mazatlan, as well as a handful of cities in the US and Canada.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine
Senior Editor Carlos Rosado van der Gracht, PhD, is a journalist, photographer, and expedition leader. Born in Mérida, Carlos holds degrees from universities in Mexico, Canada, and Norway. Most recently, he earned a doctorate in Heritage Studies in 2026.
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