Solar Eclipse: “Ring of Fire” Visible for the First Time in 11 Years; Here’s How and When to See It!

Solar Eclipse: From overlapping meteor showers to a succession of supermoons, space enthusiasts have enjoyed a spectacular summer. And with autumn just around the horizon, stargazers can anticipate even more spectacular celestial events. On October 14, eight states in the United States will be able to observe a rare annular solar eclipse.

Rare Blue Moon 2023: Extremely Rare Blue Moon Light Up The Sky; See Magnificent Images

An annular solar eclipse, also known as the “ring of fire,” is distinct from a total solar eclipse. According to NASA, the uncommon phenomenon occurs when the moon passes between the sun and earth at its farthest point from the planet, resulting in a blacked-out circle with a fiery rim (hence the name!).

North America will witness this form of eclipse for the first time in 11 years. According to Space.com, its last apparition was in 2012, when the ring of fire crossed over the southwestern United States. This year’s eclipse begins in Oregon on October 14 and then traverses Northern California, Nevada, Utah, northeastern Arizona, southwestern Colorado, and New Mexico before ending in Texas. NASA reports that it will then travel to Central America and South America.

To observe the eclipse, astronomers must be within 125 miles of the annularity path. Outside of the path, which extends from Oregon to Texas, only a partial eclipse will be visible. The duration of the ring of fire will increase proportionally to your proximity to theoară of the path. During this year’s annular solar eclipse, 91 percent of the sun will be obscured by the moon. Observers of the ring of fire are required to don eclipse glasses throughout the duration of the event.

The next perfect ring of fire will not occur until October 14, 2023, when this type of annular solar eclipse will be visible in the southwestern United States, along a path extending from Oregon to Texas and including Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico. This eclipse will produce a maximal five-minute “ring of fire” solar eclipse during which the moon will obscure 90 percent of the sun.