Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Space.com
1 month until the annular solar eclipse 2024: Here's what you need to know
By Daisy Dobrijevic,
8 hours ago
There's just one month to go until the annular solar eclipse 2024 is visible over parts of the Pacific Ocean, southern Chile and southern Argentina.
At 11:42 a.m. EDT (1542 GMT) on Oct. 2, the moon will begin to turn the sun into a dazzling "ring of fire" during the annular solar eclipse 2024 . Maximum eclipse will occur at 2:45 p.m. EDT (18:45 GMT).
The phenomenon will only be visible to those watching from within the path of annularity — a 165 to 206-mile (265 to 331-kilometer) wide route where the moon will cover up to about 93% of the sun's disk. According to Time and Date, approximately 175,000 people live within the path of annularity. Those outside the path of annularity will experience a partial solar eclipse where the moon appears to take a 'bite' out of the sun. For those wanting to watch everything unfold live online, we will host a livestream of the event on Space.com, the details of which will be announced closer to the time. You can keep up to date with all the action with our solar eclipse live blog .
All solar eclipses are caused by the new moon when it's positioned precisely between Earth and the sun so that it casts a shadow on Earth. During a total solar eclipse, the moon is close enough to Earth so that its apparent size is equal to, or bigger than, the sun. It therefore completely blocks the solar disk, plunging observers into a brief moment of darkness.
An annular eclipse occurs when the moon is slightly farther away from Earth and appears slightly smaller than the sun's disk. It therefore doesn't completely eclipse the sun but creates an iconic "ring of fire" around the moon for a few minutes.
Where to see the annular solar eclipse
The "ring of fire" effect during the annular solar eclipse is seen from Penonome, Panama, on October 14, 2023. (Image credit: LUIS ACOSTA/AFP via Getty Images)
The "ring of fire" will be visible exclusively within a path of annularity that crosses the Pacific Ocean, southern Chile and southern Argentina.
Partial eclipse phases of the annular solar eclipse on Oct. 14, 2023. (Image credit: Darwin Fan via Getty Images)
Partial solar eclipse (% coverage of sun):
Ushuaia, Argentina (72%)
Falkland Islands (84%)
Villarrica, Chile (63%)
Punta Arenas, Chile (75%)
Buenos Aires, Argentina (42%)
São Paulo, Brazil (10%)
How to see the solar eclipse
Two children watch an annular solar eclipse from Costa Rica on Oct. 14, 2023. (Image credit: EZEQUIEL BECERRA/AFP via Getty Images)
To view the solar eclipse safely, it's essential to use proper protection.
Anyone observing the partial phases of the eclipse and the "ring of fire" must wear solar eclipse glasses. Cameras, telescopes, and binoculars should also have solar filters placed in front of their lenses.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Comments / 0