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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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