A Special Solar Eclipse Will Create a “Ring of Fire” in the U.S.—Here’s How to See It
LeoPatrizi/iStock
In terms of astronomical events, catching sight of a solar eclipse tends to be pretty high on the bucket list for even the most casual amateur astronomer. Besides the fact that they happen during the daytime, they’re also one of the few spectacles that don’t require a telescope to see—just special safety glasses—for those lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time when they occur. Usually, they also tend to draw out massive crowds as onlookers travel to bear witness to the relatively rare occurrence. If you’re looking for a similarly unique experience, you’ll also be able to watch a special solar eclipse that will create a “ring of fire” above the U.S. later this year. Read on to learn how you can see it for yourself.
READ THIS NEXT: 6 Stargazing Secrets, According to Astronomy Experts .
Stocker plus/Shutterstock
If you still haven’t witnessed a solar eclipse, you may want to grab your calendar and start making some plans . This fall, a special annular solar eclipse will be visible across large swaths of the U.S. on Oct. 14 and provide a spectacle for millions of people, according to NASA.
Similar to a total solar eclipse, an annular eclipse results from the moon passing between the sun and the Earth, which creates a shadow on our planet. But since the moon will be at its furthest point from Earth when it moves across our star, it doesn’t entirely block it out. This means the sun’s edges are still visible, creating a spectacular “ring of fire” in the sky as light from the star’s outer edges reaches around our satellite, per NASA.
Shutterstock / Mihai O Coman
Getting the full effect of an annular solar eclipse is also similar to a total eclipse in that you need to be in the right place at the right time to view it. In this case, the path of annularity —or where coverage of the sun will be closest to total—first makes landfall on the coast of Oregon.
Beginning at around 8 a.m. local time, the moon will start to pass over the sun until it reaches annularity just over an hour later before eventually passing through California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas, according to NASA. Those on the Texas coast near Corpus Christi will see the spectacle around noon before the shadow passes and the partial eclipse ends after 1:30 p.m.
The viewing also isn’t just limited to those in the U.S. The shadow will then pass over Central and South America, crossing the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico before reaching Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, and finally Northern Brazil before ending at sunset over the Atlantic Ocean.
But while nearly total coverage of the sun may only pass through a handful of states, those who live anywhere in the continental U.S. will still get at least a partial view. Residents in Southern California can still expect 80 percent coverage, and those on the northern edge of the eclipse’s visibility in New England will still see 20 percent of the sun covered by the moon.
Lost_in_the_Midwest/Shutterstock
One of the hallmarks of a total solar eclipse is that the brief window of full coverage by the moon allows viewers a few minutes where they can look up without protective glasses to take it in. But since the sun never disappears during an annular eclipse, there’s no point at which looking directly at the event won’t cause severe and potentially permanent damage to your eyes without the proper safety equipment, NASA warns.
Anyone planning on even taking a glimpse at the Oct. 14 eclipse will need to use special eclipse glasses with approved solar filters. The space agency specifies that everyday sunglasses do not provide the required protection and won’t keep your eyes safe during the event. And while protective viewing filters don’t degrade or expire over time, any pairs you’ve held on to that are scratched or damaged must be thrown away.
If you’re planning on using a telescope, camera lens, or binoculars to get a better view, it’s essential that you outfit them with the necessary filters in advance. Wearing protective solar glasses while using any of these devices without this extra protection also won’t help as “the concentrated solar rays will burn through the filter and cause serious eye injury,” NASA writes on its website.
Shutterstock
If you’re not in the path of annularity—or even just holding out for the option to witness an even bigger event —you won’t have to wait much longer for another chance. On Apr. 8, 2024, North America will have front-row seats to its first total solar eclipse since 2017.
Similar to the Oct. 14 annular eclipse, viewers across most of the U.S. will have a view of at least a partial eclipse. But in this case, the path of full coverage runs in the nearly opposite direction, beginning around noon in Texas before the shadow travels north through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine before leaving the U.S. in the late afternoon, per NASA.
The total eclipse brings its own set of unique phenomena with it—including Bailey’s Beads, which are glimmers of light that form bright spots as sunlight passes through crags, craters, and valleys on the moon. And, of course, there’s the famously eerie darkness of “totality” created when the moon’s shadow passes.
But even as a rare event, you might want to make it a point to catch this particular total eclipse. That’s because it’s the last that will be visible in the United States until Aug. 23, 2044.
The Next Total Solar Eclipse Will Be the Last Until 2044, NASA Says
Stocker plus/Shutterstock
Whether you’re a casual stargazer or a devoted amateur astronomer, there’s no denying that there’s something special about witnessing a rare celestial event like a solar eclipse. Besides the fact that they only occur a few times each decade, getting a good view can come down to where you live having the right weather conditions. If you’d love to witness a solar eclipse anytime soon, you may want to mark off your calendars. NASA says the next one will be the last you can see from the U.S. until 2044. Read on for more info on how to catch this unique event.
READ THIS NEXT: NASA Promises Humans Living on the Moon in 10 Years .
GagliardiPhotography/Shutterstock
If catching a major cosmic event has been an item on your bucket list, you might want to grab your calendar . On Apr. 8, 2024, North America will have front-row seats to a total solar eclipse for the first time since 2017. But besides being a relatively rare event in and of itself, this will also be the last opportunity to view a full eclipse from within the contiguous United States until Aug. 23, 2044, according to NASA.
Lost_in_the_Midwest/Shutterstock
Even though many areas across the U.S. will be treated to at least a partial eclipse, only places that are in the total eclipse’s direct path will get to experience the moon entirely blocking out the sun . The first sight of totality on the continent will start on Mexico’s Pacific Coast before it becomes visible stateside around noon in Texas, according to NASA. From there, the path will continue north through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine before leaving the U.S. in the late afternoon.
Viewers in Canada will be able to experience the eclipse as it begins its path through Southern Ontario and eventually makes its way through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Cape Breton. The eclipse will disappear from North America as it passes off the East Coast of Canada in the early evening.
Shutterstock
So long as weather conditions remain favorable, part of what makes the experience of a total solar eclipse so special is the truly unique conditions it can create for those in its path. During the initial partial eclipse phase—or for those watching in areas outside of the total eclipse’s path—viewers will first notice a crescent blocking out part of the sun as the moon slightly covers the star while wearing the appropriate safety glasses, according to NASA.
For a few fleeting moments before the sun is covered, spectators might also be able to catch sight of Baily’s Beads, which are glimmers of light that form bright spots as sunlight passes through crags, craters, and valleys on the moon. A sharp, bright spot on the edge of the moon’s shadow known as the “diamond ring” will then appear, named for its resemblance to a sparkling piece of jewelry.
The moment the sun is completely blocked out is known as “totality,” marking the only point of the experience you can watch directly without protective glasses. Spectators might be able to make out different parts of the sun’s atmosphere, including a pink ring created by the star’s chromosphere or rays of white light from the corona. But while the view above is spectacular, sights on the ground can be just as surreal as conditions can create “a 360-degree sunset,” planets and bright stars can become briefly visible, the air temperature can drop, and “often an eerie silence will settle around you,” NASA describes.
Shutterstock / Mihai O Coman
If you’re already excited to catch a glimpse of the rare celestial event for the last time until 2044, it might not be a bad idea to start preparing for the experience. Arguably most importantly, NASA warns you’ll need the correct specially designed safe solar viewing glasses or handheld viewer to actually be able to see it . Otherwise, you’ll need to use an indirect viewing technique, such as a pinhole projector.
“Except during the brief total phase of a total solar eclipse, when the moon completely blocks the sun’s bright face, it is not safe to look directly at the sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing,” the space agency warns, clarifying that normal sunglasses won’t offer sufficient protection. “Viewing any part of the bright sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury.”
And besides ensuring you have the proper equipment, you might also want to consider arranging a place to stay if you have to travel to witness the event. Cities along the path of totality will likely see a large influx of tourists scooping up available lodging, with Ross saying organizers expect anywhere between 375,000 to 500,000 people to descend upon Rochester alone.
“We’ve been starting to spread the word really since 2019 by meeting and also kind of designating everyone as an eclipse ambassador, so everyone watching right now, get ready because all of your out-of-town relatives are coming here [and] they’re gonna want to stay in your house,” Ross told WROC.
