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In an awe-inspiring cosmic coincidence, the moon and sun perfectly aligned this afternoon, producing a total solar eclipse visible across North America. The moon’s shadow plunged daylight into darkness, carving a path from Mexico, up to Maine and into Canada. We took lots of photos.

The event, which offered just a few minutes of totality in any location, attracted millions of onlookers — including some who traveled great distances to witness the celestial anomaly. It was a rare moment of mass gathering in a time when culture is so splintered.

The eclipse first crossed into the U.S. from the border town of Piedras Negras, Mexico at 2:27 p.m. Children in a migrant shelter on the Mexican side shrieked in amazement. The moon’s shadow then carried on to Russellville, Ark., where 100 or so couples were pronounced married; Buffalo, where hundreds listened to “Here Comes the Sun”; and Montreal, where locals on Mount Royal applauded.

In some places like Wyoming County, N.Y., crowds were disappointed to see a sky full of clouds. But elsewhere — even away from the path of totality, like in New York City — crowds delightfully squinted through protective glasses.

The path of totality finally left the U.S. after passing through Houlton, Maine around 3:30 p.m, where a quiet crowd admired the view. “I would pay a million dollars to see that again,” an 11-year-old resident said.

The next total solar eclipse to cross the continental U.S. is in 2044. See you then.