Get ready for the most exciting astronomical event of 2023. An annular “ring of fire” solar eclipse.
An annular solar eclipse is one of the most spectacular types of solar eclipses, and the next solar eclipse will cross the United States on October 14, 2023.
No longer considered the frightening events they once were, solar eclipses have become predictable and calculated. Hundreds of years in the future. But even though we now understand why they happen, they are still one of the most exciting and fascinating sights nature has to offer.
For approximately 4 to 5 minutes on October 14, 2023, the Moon’s shadow will travel rapidly across the Western Hemisphere, and millions of people across North America, Central and South America will see its spectacular ring of fire. Sho. Meanwhile, a partial solar eclipse will occur across the United States.
But what is an annular solar eclipse? How is it different from a partial solar eclipse and a total solar eclipse? And where can you see the ring of fire?
When is the annular solar eclipse?
The next solar eclipse will occur on October 14, 2023. This is an annular solar eclipse, and many are calling it the “Great American Solar Eclipse” because of the spectacular ring of fire that spreads across eight states in the United States, Mexico, and South America.
Meanwhile, a partial solar eclipse will be visible across the United States.
What time is the annular solar eclipse?
If you’re on the annular path, the eclipse’s visibility will vary depending on your time zone, as it will pass across the United States. Using UTC*, this can be anywhere from 4:15 PM (morning local time) on the West Coast of the United States to 5:44 PM (sunset local time) on the East Coast.
- First location where an annular solar eclipse begins: 9:15 a.m. PDT (4:15 p.m. UTC) Pacific Ocean before landfall in Reedsport, Oregon
- Locations of the last annular solar eclipse observed in the United States: Port Aransas, Texas, 11:56 a.m. CDT (4:56 p.m. UTC)
- Locations where an annular solar eclipse was last seen: Atlantic Ocean, 5:44 PM UTC (sunset at 5:48 PM UTC)
*UTC is Coordinated Universal Time, the standard time used to set all time zones around the world.
What time is the annular solar eclipse in my state?
Using locations near the center of each U.S. state where totality is observed, here are the times when your state will see the sun turn into an incredible ring of fire.
A partial solar eclipse will also be visible at these locations for approximately 90 minutes before and after totality (ordered from first location to last location to show the ring of fire).
- Eugene, Oregon: 9:16am – 9:20am PDT
- Davis Creek, California: 9:18am – 9:22am PDT
- Battle Mountain, Nevada: 9:21am – 9:25am PDT
- Beaver, Utah: 10:26am – 10:30am PDT
- Red Mesa, Arizona: 10:30am – 10:34am PDT
- Cortez, Colorado: 10:31am – 10:34am PDT
- Albuquerque, New Mexico: 10:34am – 10:39am PDT
- San Antonio, Texas: 11:52am – 11:56am CDT
- Hopelugen, Mexico: 11:23am – 11:28am (CST)
- Belize City, Belize: 11:31am – 11:37am (Central Standard Time)
- Guaraco, Honduras: 11:41am – 11:47am (Central Standard Time)
- Nicaragua, El Cacao: 11:50am – 11:55am (Central Standard Time)
- Limón, Costa Rica: 12:02 PM – 12:03 PM (Central Standard Time)
- Agua Dulce, Panama: 1:10pm – 1:15pm ET
- Pizarro, Colombia: 1:25pm – 1:30pm (Japan time)
- San Pedro, Colombia: 1:30pm – 1:35pm (Japan time)
- La Victoria (Pacoa), Colombia: 1:50pm – 1:55pm (Japan time)
- Tefe, Brazil: 3:09pm – 3:14pm AMT
- San Felix do Sing, Brazil: 4:32pm – 4:37pm BRT
- Silkworm, Brazil: 4:43pm BRT – 4:47pm (after totaling, the partially eclipsed Sun will be below the horizon at 5:21pm BRT)
- Atlantic: 5:44 PM – 5:48 PM UTC-2 (Sunset is at 5:49 PM, with a thin crescent of the sun below the horizon)
look interactive solar eclipse map Determine the exact time of partial and maximum solar eclipse at your location. This will be the last chance to see an annular eclipse in this part of the world until 2046.
Where can I see an annular solar eclipse?
An annular solar eclipse will be visible in North America, Central and South America, and South America on October 14, 2023.
A partial solar eclipse will be visible across the U.S. and Canada on this day, but the spectacular “Ring of Fire” will only be visible in some U.S. states, along with Mexico and South America. Those lucky enough to be in the path of an annular solar eclipse will also experience a partial solar eclipse before and after the ring of fire.
The ring of fire is expected to cross eight states, pass through northern Brazil and into South America, ending in the Atlantic Ocean at sunset. For ships nearby, the annular solar eclipse will be a spectacular sight as it sinks below the horizon.
Oregon will be the first U.S. state to see a ring of fire, followed by California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas.
The path of the annular solar eclipse will then pass through Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.
It then passes through Panama, Colombia, and Brazil before reaching the Atlantic Ocean.
The October 14th solar eclipse will last a total of about two and a half hours from start to finish.
- Partial solar eclipse: Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes
- Annular solar eclipse: Approximately 4-5 minutes
- Partial solar eclipse: Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes
Sorry, UK viewers, this eclipse will not be visible from our side of the pond.
What does an annular solar eclipse look like?
An annular solar eclipse, also known as a ring of fire, looks exactly like its name. A fiery halo shines in the darkened sky. This occurs when the moon is directly in front of the sun, with only the outer edge of the sun visible around the moon’s edge.
Not all solar eclipses cause a ring of fire, but the moon needs to be far enough from us in its elliptical orbit to not block out all of the sun.
What is an annular solar eclipse?
An annular solar eclipse (also known as a ring of fire eclipse) is a type of solar eclipse that occurs when the moon passes directly in front of the sun, but does not completely block out the light. As a result, the outer edge of the Sun, known as the “ring of fire” or “ring of fire,” remains visible around the moon like a ring of light.
Because the Moon orbits the Earth in an elliptical shape, the distance between the Earth and the Moon changes throughout the year. For an annular solar eclipse to occur, the moon must be in its new moon phase and far enough from Earth to appear small. Therefore, the sun’s central disk cannot be completely blocked.
Although annular solar eclipses are visually impressive, they are more likely than partial solar eclipses (when only part of the sun is obscured by the moon, revealing a crescent-shaped sun) or total solar eclipses (when the moon completely covers the sun). also occurs less frequently. An annular solar eclipse is a rare treat and will be remembered for years to come.
When is the next solar eclipse?
For the UK, the next solar eclipse will be a partial solar eclipse in March 2025, but it will be a long time until the next total solar eclipse. September 2090.
Here is a list of upcoming solar eclipses around the world:
- October 14, 2023: Annular solar eclipse, Americas
- April 8, 2024: Total solar eclipse, Mexico, USA, Canada
- October 2, 2024: Annular solar eclipse, Easter Island, Chile
- March 29, 2025: Partial solar eclipse, UK and Europe
- September 21, 2025: Partial solar eclipse, New Zealand
- February 17, 2026: Annular solar eclipse, southern Chile
- August 12, 2026: Total solar eclipse, Iceland and Spain
Why do solar eclipses only occur during new moons?
Solar eclipses only occur during new moon phases. This is because during a new moon, the moon is between the sun and the earth. The moon has to be located there to block the light from the sun. It’s very easy if you think about it!
During this linear alignment, the Moon can pass in front of the Sun (from our perspective on Earth), resulting in a solar eclipse.
However, not every new moon causes a solar eclipse, so a solar eclipse does not occur every month. This is because the Moon orbits the Earth in a plane that is slightly different by about 5 degrees from the Earth’s orbit around the Sun. This small difference is usually enough to allow the new moon to pass above or below the sun without blocking it, so no solar eclipse occurs.
That is, a solar eclipse can only occur when the moon passes through the Earth’s orbital plane during the new moon phase.
Why don’t solar eclipses last as long as lunar eclipses?
In a total solar eclipse, the totality lasts for just a few seconds to a few minutes, whereas in a lunar eclipse, the totality lasts an hour, and the totality lasts several hours.
This difference is due to the difference in the relative sizes of the Earth and the Moon, and hence the difference in the celestial bodies that cast their shadows. In a lunar eclipse, the Earth casts a shadow on the Moon, while in a solar eclipse, the Moon casts a shadow on the Earth.
How to observe the October 14th annular solar eclipse:
Even if you’re not in the middle of the eclipse, you can still watch through the official broadcast on NASA’s YouTube channel, which will begin streaming on October 14, 2023 at 4:30 p.m.
If you are lucky enough to be in a position to observe a partial or annular solar eclipse, be sure to wear eye protection to protect your eyes. You can purchase special-purpose eclipse glasses or hand-held solar observation equipment. These are different from regular sunglasses. They are much darker; ISO 12312-2 International standard for filters for viewing the sun directly.
Never look directly at the sun.
Also, do not look at the sun with cameras, telescopes, binoculars, or other optical devices. The sun not only passes through the filter, but it can also harm your eyes.
Another way to view a solar eclipse is to pinhole projector. This is an indirect method and requires something with small holes in it, such as a card or holes in a colander (the latter is fun because you end up with lots of sun). When he stands with his back to the sun and holds his DIY projector over a smooth white surface, like white copy paper on the ground, an image of the sun is projected onto the paper below. This is a fun project and a great way to view the eclipse safely.
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