While not visible in our skies, the upcoming total solar eclipse can still be experienced by Kiwis as it happens.
The eclipse began briefly darkening North American skies when it started shortly before daybreak NZ time today.
The path of totality passes over Mexico's Pacific coast and ends in eastern Canada. In all, 15 US states get to see the full eclipse.
Luckily for those down under, NASA will be providing a free live stream of the event.
The livestream began at 5am NZ time and can be viewed at this link.
"Watch live with us as a total solar eclipse moves across Mexico, the United States and Canada," NASA said on its live cam landing page.
"Weather permitting, people throughout most of North and Central America, including all of the contiguous United States, will be able to view at least a partial solar eclipse. See views of the eclipse from sites along its path."
All eyes on the skies
Clouds are forecast for much of the eclipse route through the US with possible patches of clear skies in some spots, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service.
Northern New England into Canada was the best bet to witness the eclipse, when the moon blocks out the sun for a few minutes and day turns into night.
Texas is likely to have the heaviest cloud cover. More concerning, the weather service is forecasting severe weather — tornadoes and hail — about the time of the eclipse for parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana.
The forecast for the eclipse path has been fairly consistent for the past 10 days, said David Roth, a meteorologist with the weather service.
“Things aren't moving that fast,” he said today.
The next total solar eclipse won’t occur until 2026. But it will graze the top of the world, dipping into Greenland, Iceland and Spain.
The next one after that in 2027 will march across Spain and northern Africa, with totality lasting an incredible 6 1/2 minutes.
— additional reporting by The Associated Press.
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