Millions gather in North America hoping to catch glimpse of total solar eclipse

An amateur astronomer prepares her telescope a day before a total solar eclipse in Mazatlan, Mexico (Fernando Llano/AP)

A total eclipse of the sun is set to plunge a stretch of North America into darkness on Monday, will millions of spectators across the US, Mexico and Canada hoping to catch a glimpse of the celestial phenomenon.

It promises to be North America’s biggest eclipse crowd ever, thanks to the lure of up to four minutes of midday darkness in Texas and other spots.