A rare annular solar eclipse, also known as a Ring of Fire eclipse, will be visible in twelve US states on Saturday, October 14, 2023.
The eclipse will begin at 9:13 a.m. PT (12:13 p.m. ET) and and then move through California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas before crossing over parts of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, and Brazil. The spectacle will conclude at sunset over the Atlantic Ocean. While the prime viewing area lies within this path, people across North America, Central America, and South America will still witness some level of obscuration, making it a sight to behold.
Also read | What is ‘Ring of Fire’? Date, time, region of occurence, and more to know about annular eclipse
During an annular solar eclipse, the Moon passes directly in front of the Sun, but because the Moon is farther away from Earth than usual, it does not completely block the Sun. Instead, the Moon leaves a ring of sunlight visible around its edges. This ring of sunlight is what gives the eclipse its Ring of Fire appearance.
The Ring of Fire effect will be visible for a narrow path across the twelve US states listed above. People outside of this path will still be able to see a partial solar eclipse, but the Sun will not be completely covered by the Moon.
To safely view the solar eclipse, it is important to wear special eclipse glasses. Eclipse glasses are designed to filter out the Sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) radiation. It is never safe to look directly at the Sun, even during an eclipse.
If you are unable to travel to one of the twelve US states where the Ring of Fire effect will be visible, you can still watch the eclipse online. NASA will be providing a live stream of the eclipse on its website and social media channels.
Also read | How often does Ring of Fire eclipse happen?
The Ring of Fire eclipse is a rare and spectacular event. If you have the opportunity to see it, be sure to take advantage of it and to safely enjoy this amazing celestial phenomenon.
