Solar Eclipse Will Turn Sun Into a “Ring of Fire” Saturday—How to See It
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No matter what your level of interest in astronomy or the cosmos may be, a solar eclipse of any kind is usually considered a must-see event. The rare spectacle tends to draw out large crowds hoping to catch a glimpse of the phenomenon—while also creating a unique feeling of camaraderie among everyone watching. Fortunately, you won’t have to wait very long to experience one for yourself as a special solar eclipse will turn the sun into a “ring of fire” this Saturday. Read on to learn how to see this special event.
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So far, this autumn has seen a busy astronomical calendar filled with consecutive “super moons” and the Draconid meteor shower . But things will really gear up this weekend when an annular solar eclipse will create a spectacle in the sky on Oct. 14.
Just like a total eclipse, an annular eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun and casts a shadow. However, Saturday’s event will take place when the moon is at its furthest point from our planet in its orbit, according to NASA. This means it will only partially cover the sun and create a “ring of fire.”
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Millions of people across the U.S. will have a view of at least a partial eclipse when it takes place this upcoming weekend. However, those who are in the path of annularity , which runs from the Pacific Northwest through the Southwest, will get to experience the most drastic views, according to NASA.
The first signs of partial eclipse will start on the Oregon coast around 8:06 a.m. PDT before it hits annularity a little more than an hour later, according to the space agency. The path then flows south, going through parts of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas over the next few hours.
The last bits of the partial eclipse will be visible from the U.S. near Corpus Christi on the Texas coast, where the sun will be fully uncovered again around 1:30 p.m. CDT, per NASA. From there, viewers in Central and South America will get to take in the event, as it crosses over Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, and finally, Northern Brazil.
Even though the path of annularity is limited to a few regions, people across the U.S. will still be able to view a partial eclipse. People as far north as New England will still experience a 10 percent blockage of the sun, while places like Florida and Chicago, Illinois, can expect up to 40 percent.
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Of course, stepping out to catch sight of a solar eclipse takes a little more preparation than just looking up. Unlike a total eclipse which offers a few minutes of full coverage, there’s no point at which an annular eclipse is safe to view without protection—meaning you’ll need the proper safety equipment , according to NASA.
The space agency stresses that everyday sunglasses are not nearly strong enough to protect your eyes for viewing, saying that appropriate eyewear is “thousands of times darker and ought to comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard.” But unfortunately, experts are cautioning that not all pairs are genuine .
NASA points out that all certified pairs will have the ISO logo printed on them—but since some counterfeit glasses will still use this logo, it’s best to pick up your pair from a reputable source or trusted retailer recognized by the American Astronomical Society (AAS).
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As any eclipse chaser will tell you, optimal viewing conditions on Saturday will often come down to local weather conditions. If you’re making viewing plans, check the forecast for your area ahead of time—keeping in mind that you’ll still be able to notice the daytime darkness created by the event even if there’s cloud cover, according to NASA. You can also use the space agency’s helpful interactive website to find what time you’ll have the best viewing experience.
Besides checking that your protective glasses are bonafide, it’s also important to inspect any pairs you’ve had since previous eclipses for wear and tear. The space agency warns that scratches and other damage are a sign that they should be discarded and replaced to ensure your eyes aren’t damaged.
And if you’re planning on using a telescope, camera lens, or binoculars to get a better view, you must 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 explains.
- Source: https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2023/what-to-expect/
- Source: https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2023/where-when/
- Source: https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2023/safety/
- Source: https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/webapps/eclipse-explorer/
The Next Total Solar Eclipse Will Be the Last Until 2044, NASA Says
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
