An annular solar eclipse, commonly referred to as the “Ring of Fire,” will occur on October 2, 2024. This phenomenon happens when the Moon is at a distance from the Earth that prevents it from fully covering the Sun, leaving a visible bright ring of sunlight.
An annular solar eclipse, commonly referred to as the “Ring of Fire,” will occur on October 2, 2024. This phenomenon happens when the Moon is at a distance from the Earth which prevents it from fully covering the Sun, leaving a visible bright ring of sunlight.
The eclipse will peak at 18:45 UTC, with the “Ring of Fire” visible between 16:50 UTC and 20:39 UTC. The best viewing locations will be in southern Chile, Argentina, and Easter Island, with partial views observable over the Pacific Ocean and parts of South America.
This annular eclipse will last for about four hours, with a maximum annularity of 7 minutes and 25 seconds.
The eclipse falls under Saros cycle 144 and is the 17th of 70 in this series. It will occur at the Moon’s descending node, with the Moon nearing apogee, its farthest point from Earth. This causes the Moon to appear smaller in the sky, producing the characteristic “Ring of Fire.”
The eclipse will be visible from Easter Island around 18:03 UTC, and observers in Chile and Argentina will experience the event in the late afternoon. Notable viewing locations include Cochrane in Chile, Puerto Deseado in Argentina, and the iconic Easter Island, famous for its moai statues.
This eclipse follows a partial lunar eclipse two weeks earlier on September 18, both occurring within the same eclipse season.
References:
¹ Annular Solar Eclipse of 2024 October 2 – Fred Espenak – EclipseWise.com – Accessed September 8, 2024