Total solar eclipse draws visitors to western, northern Maine [Video]

Under a baby blue, cloudless sky, the town of Rangeley was buzzing with excitement on Monday for the total solar eclipse passing through Maine just before 3:30 p.m.

The partial eclipse started to be visible in Maine around 2:22 p.m.

Hours earlier, by 9:30 a.m., some 30 people had marked their territory with camping chairs and telescopes at Whip Willow Farm Scenic Overlook, a premier eclipse viewing destination just outside of downtown Rangeley.

Massachusetts-residents Mitch Heydt and Sachin Sawe set up camp outside there at 4:30 a.m. While a crowd was growing at the small overlook parking lot mid morning, the pair was relishing their success at scoring a spot at one of the best viewing locations in town.

“Beating everyone to the punch in the perfect spot as the first people here was the best feeling,” said Heydt, who traveled four hours from Stow, Massachusetts. “This is a once in a …