Millions to Witness ‘Ring of Fire’ Solar Eclipse Across Americas on Saturday
Tens of Millions in the Americas to Witness Rare “Ring of Fire” Eclipse
Tens of millions of people in the Americas will have front-row seats for Saturday’s extraordinary celestial event – a rare “ring of fire” eclipse of the sun.
Known as an annular solar eclipse, this phenomenon will briefly dim the skies over parts of the western U.S. and Central and South America. As the moon aligns precisely between Earth and the sun, it will create a stunning visual effect, blotting out all but the sun’s outer rim. A bright, blazing border will encircle the moon for up to five minutes, captivating skygazers along a narrow path stretching from Oregon to Brazil.
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This celestial showstopper will also yield a partial eclipse across the rest of the Western Hemisphere. However, it serves as a prelude to the total solar eclipse that will sweep across Mexico, the eastern half of the United States, and Canada in six months. Unlike Saturday’s event, the moon will be at the perfect distance from Earth on April 8, 2024, allowing it to completely cover the sun from our perspective.
What’s the Path of The Ring of Fire Eclipse?
The eclipse will carve out a 130-mile-wide swath, starting in the North Pacific and entering the U.S. over Oregon. It will culminate in the ring of fire a little over an hour later. The eclipse will then head downward across several states, including Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, and Texas, before exiting into the Gulf of Mexico. The entire journey will take less than an hour for the flaming halo to traverse the United States.
From there, the ring of fire will cross several countries in Central and South America before its grand finale over the Atlantic.
The entire eclipse, from the moment the moon starts to obscure the sun until it returns to normal, will last 2 1/2 to three hours at any given spot. The ring of fire portion will last from three to five minutes, depending on the location.
Where Can the Eclipse Be Seen?
In the U.S. alone, more than 6.5 million people live along the path of annularity, with another 68 million within 200 miles. This means that over 70 million people can witness this incredible celestial alignment with just a short drive, according to NASA’s Alex Lockwood, a planetary scientist.
A crescent-shaped partial eclipse will also be visible in every U.S. state, although it will be barely noticeable in Hawaii, provided the skies are clear. Additionally, Canada, Central America, and most of South America will experience a partial eclipse. The closer one is to the ring of fire path, the larger the bite the moon will appear to take out of the sun.
How to Protect Your Eyes During the Eclipse?
It is crucial to use safe, certified solar eclipse glasses to protect your eyes, as sunglasses are not sufficient. Proper eye protection is necessary throughout the entire eclipse, from the initial partial phase to the ring of fire and the final partial phase.
If you don’t have eclipse glasses, there are other options available. You can look indirectly using a pinhole projector that you can make yourself, including one made with a cereal box.
Cameras, binoculars, or telescopes require special solar filters mounted at the front end to be used safely.
Seeing Double
One patch of Texas near San Antonio will be in the crosshairs of both Saturday’s eclipse and next April’s, with Kerrville near the center. Kerrville is one of the locations hosting NASA’s livestream.
“Is the city of Kerrville excited? Absolutely!!!” exclaimed Mayor Judy Eychner. “And having NASA here is just icing on the cake!!!”
With Saturday’s eclipse coinciding with art, music, and river festivals, Mayor Eychner expects Kerrville’s population of 25,000 to double or even quadruple.
Where’s the Total Eclipse in April?
April’s total solar eclipse will crisscross the U.S. in the opposite direction. It will begin in the Pacific and head up through Mexico into Texas, then pass over several states before cutting across Canada into the North Atlantic. Many of these locations missed out on the United States’ coast-to-coast total solar eclipse in 2017.
After this weekend, it will be 2039 before another ring of fire is visible in the U.S., with Alaska being the only state in its path. It will be 2046 before another ring of fire crosses into the U.S. Lower 48. However, other parts of the world will experience these events sooner, with the southernmost tip of South America getting one next October and Antarctica in 2026.
Going after the Science
NASA and other organizations have planned numerous observations during both eclipses, including the launch of rockets and hundreds of balloons to study the atmospheric effects caused by eclipses.
“It’s going to be absolutely breathtaking for science,” said NASA astrophysicist Madhulika Guhathakurta.
Aroh Barjatya from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University will assist in launching three NASA-funded sounding rockets to study atmospheric waves in the ionosphere during Saturday’s eclipse. He will be just outside the ring of fire path. Although he will miss April’s full eclipse, he will be launching rockets during that event from Virginia’s Wallops Island.
“But the bittersweet moment of not seeing annularity or totality will certainly be made up by the science return,” he said.
What preparations is the city of Turner making for the upcoming total solar eclipse in April 2024?
Im Turner. “Words don’t do it justice, and pictures only give a taste of what it’s like to see an eclipse in person. It’s something that everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime.”
Turner added that many locals are aware of the upcoming total solar eclipse in April 2024 and are eagerly anticipating it. The city is working on plans to accommodate the influx of visitors that is expected for the event.
While Saturday’s annular solar eclipse may not be as rare as a total solar eclipse, it is still an extraordinary phenomenon that allows people to witness the wonders of the universe. As the ring of fire forms and the skies darken for a few minutes, it’s a reminder of the vastness of space and our place in it.
So mark your calendars, grab your eclipse glasses or build a pinhole projector, and prepare to be amazed by this celestial spectacle. Whether you’re in the path of annularity or you’re watching a partial eclipse, take a moment to appreciate the beauty and grandeur of the universe.
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