People across America used telescopes, cameras and protective glasses to watch a historic total solar eclipse. A total solar eclipse happens when the sun, moon and Earth perfectly line up. The total solar eclipse was visible along a path about 110 kilometers wide across 14 states. This path of totality began in the western state of Oregon Monday morning. It ended in the afternoon in the southern state of South Carolina. More than 100,000 people gathered in Madras, Oregon - a town with a population of just 7,000 to be among the first to watch the total solar eclipse. People from across the U.S. and around the world came together in many other areas to view the eclipse. Skies turned dark for about two minutes as the moon completely blocked the sun.