Millions of people in the Americas will be able to experience an astronomical treat, the ring of fire, on October 14 when the moon will be seen moving in front of the sun, weather permitting. The Solar eclipse will be visible across sections of the United States, Mexico, and numerous Central and South American countries. The type of solar eclipse that will occur and where it will be visible are described below.
What exactly is an Annular Solar Eclipse?
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between Earth and the sun, obstructing the view of some or all of the sun’s face along a narrow swath of Earth as it passes. The one on October 14 is a type known as an “annular solar eclipse.” This happens when the moon passes between Earth and the sun at or near the moon’s furthest point from our planet. Unlike a total solar eclipse, it does not totally conceal the face of the sun.
Why does the Annular Solar Eclipse appear to be a ring of fire?
Because the moon is farther away from Earth than usual during an annular solar eclipse, it will not totally conceal the sun, instead appearing as a dark disk superimposed above the sun’s larger, brighter face in the sky. As a result, the eclipse will appear to be a ring of fire surrounding the black disc of the moon for a brief instant. On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will pass over Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
Where can you see the Annular Solar Eclipse?
According to NASA, the path in the United States where the maximum obscuration of the sun will occur on Oct. 14 begins at 9:13 a.m. PDT (12:13 p.m. EDT/1613 GMT) in Oregon, then continues across California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. The route then passes through Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, and Brazil before reaching the Atlantic Ocean at sunset. People in considerably broader portions of North America, Central America, and South America will observe reduced solar obscuration – still an impressive sight.
Because the moon is much closer to our planet and hence much smaller than the sun, it will nearly hide the sun’s face as seen from Earth. The moon has a diameter of 2,159 miles (3,476 km), whereas the sun has a diameter of around 865,000 miles (1.4 million km) and the Earth has a diameter of 7,918 miles (12,742 km).
What is the most secure way to see an eclipse?
Experts advise that looking straight at the bright sun without specialist eye protection designed for solar gazing is dangerous and may result in eye injury. Because the moon never completely blocks the sun during an annular solar eclipse, it is never safe to stare at it directly without eye protection.
According to these specialists, seeing it through a camera lens, binoculars, or telescope without a special-purpose solar filter can result in severe eye harm. During an annular solar eclipse, they recommend wearing safe solar viewing glasses or a safe handheld solar viewer at all times, warning that conventional sunglasses are not safe for viewing the sun.
What is the distinction between a solar and a lunar eclipse?
Lunar eclipses occur when the Earth is between the moon and the sun, casting our planet’s shadow on the lunar surface. As a result, the moon appears dull and sometimes orange from Earth. Lunar eclipses can be seen from half of the Earth, a significantly larger region than solar eclipses.