Will the ‘Ring of Fire’ Annular Solar Eclipse be visible from the US? The best places to watch
An annular solar eclipse known as the ‘ring of fire’ will cross the Pacific Ocean on Oct. 2, but will it be visible in the U.S.? Here’s what the experts say.
An annular solar eclipse will take place over the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday, Oct. 2. This phenomenon is also known as the “Ring of Fire” because of the visual effect that the moon generates when it covers the sun but not completely, leaving only a “ring of fire” visible.
According to the science and technology museum Exploratorium, this effect occurs when the Moon comes between the Sun and the Earth, and it is at its farthest point from the Earth.
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Will the ‘Ring of Fire’ Annular Solar Eclipse be visible from the US? The best places to watch
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration says the annular path or eclipse strip will cross the Pacific Ocean and parts of southern Chile and Argentina around 6:10 a.m. Given the trajectory of the phenomenon, Chile and Argentina will be the only countries that will be able to see the eclipse in its entirety.
The only regions in the United States where the eclipse will be partially visible are Hawaii, Palmyra Atoll, and Baker Island. Other countries and territories that will be able to see part of the “ring of fire” are Mexico, Brazil, Antarctica, French Polynesia, Samoa, the Falkland Islands, Fiji, New Zealand, Paraguay, Tonga, and Uruguay.
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Here’s how to watch the annular solar eclipse on Oct. 2
Those who are not in the path of the eclipse can follow the phenomenon minute by minute via the official timeanddate broadcast of Oct. 2. Here is the livestream:
When will the next annular solar eclipse be?
Residents of the United States, specifically Alaska, will be able to see another complete “ring of fire” in 2039. In other parts of the world, South America will witness another annular solar eclipse in October 2025, while Antarctica will do the same in 2026, according to the Associated Process.