A rare annular solar eclipse will create a spectacular “ring of fire” over parts of South America on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, according to NASA. The phenomenon occurs when the moon passes between Earth and the sun but is too far from Earth to completely cover the sun, leaving a fiery ring around the moon’s shadow.
The eclipse path will stretch across the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and parts of South America, with locations like Easter Island, Chile, and Argentina positioned to witness the full event. A partial eclipse will also be visible in regions like Hawaii, Brazil, and New Zealand.
To view the event safely, NASA advises using certified eclipse glasses or solar viewers. Looking directly at the eclipse without proper protection can result in serious eye damage.
The “ring of fire” will first appear over Easter Island at 3:07 p.m. ET, lasting just over six minutes. Skywatchers in Chile and Argentina will see the eclipse in the late afternoon, while a partial eclipse will be visible over the Falkland Islands and South Georgia.
For those not in the path of the eclipse, the event can still be observed indirectly through methods like pinhole projectors. The eclipse will begin at 12:50 p.m. ET and end at 4:39 p.m. ET.
Later in the month, astronomy enthusiasts can look forward to the “hunter’s moon,” a supermoon on October 17, and several meteor showers to close out 2024.
