A ‘ring of fire’ will grace parts of the United States during the 2023 annular solar eclipse, as the moon passes between the sun and Earth. This cosmic phenomenon is set to occur on October 14, starting in Oregon at 12:13 pm ET and concluding three hours later in Texas. The eclipse’s path will span eight states: Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Texas, and parts of Mexico, Central America, and South America.
This upcoming annular solar eclipse marks the first time in 11 years that North America will witness such an event, previously seen only in these eight states. Unlike other eclipses where the moon completely blocks the sun’s light, an annular eclipse occurs when the moon is farther away from Earth, allowing a ring of light (or ‘fire’) to burst through, creating a stunning visual effect. A total eclipse, on the other hand, occurs when the moon completely covers the face of the sun, and the US will experience such an event in 2024.
The 2023 annular solar eclipse will span a 125-mile-long path from Oregon to Brazil. During this event, the moon is predicted to cover 90 percent of the sun, resulting in reduced light levels. Eclipse enthusiasts who use proper eye protection, such as eclipse glasses, will be treated to the sight of a brilliant ring of sunlight.
Michael Zeiler, an eclipse-chaser and cartographer at GreatAmericanEclipse.com, suggests that the ‘Four Corners’ area where Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona meet in the US National Parks is an ideal location to observe the annular solar eclipse. This region experiences sunny weather at that time of year, after the monsoon season and before winter storms.
While the path of the eclipse encompasses these eight states, only specific areas will witness the full annular eclipse. Along the southern Oregon coast and northeastern region of California is where the best views will be. The path continues through southern Utah, southwest Colorado, northeastern Arizona, northwest to southeast New Mexico, and parts of Texas.
It’s important to remember that looking directly at the sun, even during a partial eclipse, can cause severe and permanent eye damage. Dr. Emily Drabek-Maunder, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, advises against looking at the sun without proper eye protection or using standard sunglasses, as they do not provide adequate protection. Binoculars, telescopes, or camera lenses should also not be used to view the sun without specialist filters.
To observe the eclipse safely, alternatives such as pinhole projectors, solar eclipse viewing glasses available for purchase online, or special solar filters can be used. Dr. Drabek-Maunder suggests creating a projector by making a small hole in a piece of card, holding it up to the sun so that the light shines through onto a piece of paper placed behind it. This setup allows one to witness the changing shape of the sun as the moon passes in front.
Stay prepared and make sure to protect your eyes while enjoying the rare and wondrous sight of the annular solar eclipse.
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