San Francisco Public Works Annual Report - Fiscal Year 2017-18 | Page 108

Solar
Eclipse
On August 21, 2017, thousands of people poured
out of their homes, offices and schools to nearby
parks, plazas and hillsides to celebrate the natural
occurrence of the moon overshadowing the sun
during the “Great American” total solar eclipse.
A total solar eclipse appears when the Earth,
moon and sun align in such a way that the moon
covers the disks of the sun, causing a short period
of darkness when day seemingly turns into night.
This span of time, known as totality, was visible
on a path that spanned across the country, from
northern Oregon to South Carolina.