The bewitching splendor of an eclipse, in 13 vintage photos

Watching people watch this natural cosmic phenomenon is utterly delightful

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Crowds watching solar eclipse near Nice.
1961
(Image credit: Crowds watch the total solar eclipse near Nice, France.)

1927
(Image credit: Crowds gather on a hill near Giggleswick, north Yorkshire, to view a total eclipse of the sun.)

1912
(Image credit: Policemen look at the solar eclipse in Berlin.)

1925
(Image credit: President Calvin Coolidge and first lady Grace Coolidge view the solar eclipse from White House Lawn.)

1927
(Image credit: A group gathers in a window to view the total solar eclipse over London through smoked glass.)

1927
(Image credit: A schoolteacher instructs his students on how to safely view the solar eclipse in London.)

1927
(Image credit: A group of nurses observe a solar eclipse through special dark glasses in 1927 (location unknown).)

1936
(Image credit: Amateur astronomers view an eclipse of the sun in Hornsey, London.)

1936
(Image credit: Spectators at Upton Park, London, pause during a soccer match to view the eclipse of the sun.)

1952
(Image credit: A man watches an eclipse through a strip of exposed camera film in Sudan.)

1961
(Image credit: Students and their teacher watch the solar eclipse through toned glasses in Munich.)

1961
(Image credit: Several hundred people watch the solar eclipse in Europe.)

1966
(Image credit: A member of the Junior Astronomical Society observes an eclipse of the sun in the United Kingdom.)

Lauren Hansen
Lauren Hansen

Lauren Hansen produces The Week’s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.