Houston pilots chased eclipse across the country

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The nation waited nearly a century for it and the Great American Eclipse is now a thing of the past.

It did not disappoint.

The moon's shadow raced across the nation leaving millions in the dark for a few brief moments of totality.

Houston pilots flew into total darkness over the country racing with the eclipse to get the best pictures possible for NASA.

They were sent to capture images of the sun's corona which can only be seen when the moon passes in front of the bright star.

They took off from Ellington Airport and their journey took them 50,000 feet in the sky. They were in total darkness for at least seven minutes as they crossed Missouri, Illinois, and Tennessee.

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