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Moon trolls sun on Twitter in solar cyber spat

Twitter users exacerbated the spat online, using GIFs of celebrities applauding and toasting to the moon

News Desk August 21, 2017

This NASA handout photo shows the Moon seen passing in front of the Sun during a solar eclipse from Ross Lake, Northern Cascades National Park, Washington. PHOTO: AFP

As if a solar eclipse was not enough, the moon threw some virtual shade at the sun on Twitter on Monday, as millions of people watched the first coast-to-coast total eclipse in the United States in nearly a century.

"HA HA HA I've blocked the Sun!" wrote NASA Moon (@NASAMoon) on its verified Twitter account, which was created by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

“Make way for the Moon. #SolarEclipse2017.”

The tweet was accompanied with a screenshot photo showing that the moon had blocked the verified Twitter profile of NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun).

HA HA HA I’ve blocked the Sun! Make way for the Moon. #SolarEclipse2017 pic.twitter.com/nZCoqBlSTe
— NASA Moon (@NASAMoon) August 21, 2017

Let the Sun shine ☀️ @NASASun, I unblocked you in the sky and on Twitter :) #SolarEclipse2017
— NASA Moon (@NASAMoon) August 21, 2017

The sun's response was swift. "Uh EXCUSE me?!? #solareclipse2017," tweeted @NASASun. Tens of thousands of Twitter users liked the exchange and many social media users responded with amusement.

uh, EXCUSE me?!? #solareclipse2017 https://t.co/T1WDs2JEdi
— NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) August 21, 2017

"This is just too perfect. Congratulations. You have won the entire internet," user Andy Stein (@MandoPony) replied.

This is just too perfect. Congratulations. You have won the entire internet. pic.twitter.com/x6OkPnLj8R
— andy (@AndySteinMusic) August 21, 2017

"I feel the moon is gonna get some licks in but the sun is gonna come out on top," wrote another user, @GeeInTheNorth.

https://twitter.com/GeeInTheNorth/status/899686475108950016

Some users exacerbated the spat online, using GIFs of celebrities applauding and toasting to the moon, while some accused it of being petty and demanded that the sun respond. After weeks of anticipation, the sight of the moon's silhouette blotting out all but a halo-like corona of the sun drew whoops and cheers from onlookers when it began over the West Coast on Monday.