The bewitching splendor of an eclipse, in 13 vintage photos
Watching people watch this natural cosmic phenomenon is utterly delightful

1961
Crowds watch the total solar eclipse near Nice, France.

1927
Crowds gather on a hill near Giggleswick, north Yorkshire, to view a total eclipse of the sun.

1912
Policemen look at the solar eclipse in Berlin.

1925
President Calvin Coolidge and first lady Grace Coolidge view the solar eclipse from White House Lawn.

1927
A group gathers in a window to view the total solar eclipse over London through smoked glass.

1927
A schoolteacher instructs his students on how to safely view the solar eclipse in London.

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

1936
Amateur astronomers view an eclipse of the sun in Hornsey, London.

1936
Spectators at Upton Park, London, pause during a soccer match to view the eclipse of the sun.

1952
A man watches an eclipse through a strip of exposed camera film in Sudan.

1961
Students and their teacher watch the solar eclipse through toned glasses in Munich.

1961
Several hundred people watch the solar eclipse in Europe.

1966
A member of the Junior Astronomical Society observes an eclipse of the sun in the United Kingdom.