Although months away, the 2023 annular solar eclipse on October 14 is a must-see celestial event. Also dubbed as the "ring of fire," eight US states will be able to see it, marking the first time in North America.
Observers across the Americas will experience a partial solar eclipse that will last about three hours. However, the ring-shaped effect of the eclipse will only be visible along a narrow trajectory for a brief duration.
Annular Solar Eclipse Different From Total Solar Eclipse
Solar eclipses are categorized as either total or annular. The former is where the Moon fully covers the Sun, while the latter is where the Moon blocking most of the Sun but leaving a ring-like outer edge visible. A forthcoming total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, will be witnessed in Mexico, the U.S., and Canada.
The distinctions between these eclipse types were highlighted by Jayne Aubele, Senior Educator at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science, in a YouTube video who emphasized the absence of darkness, temperature changes, and the "black hole sun" phenomenon during an annular eclipse. Instead, observers are treated to the impressive "ring of fire."
Annular solar eclipses result from the Moon's position slightly farther from the Earth in its elliptical orbit, causing it to appear smaller against the Sun. This upcoming event will involve the Moon covering up to 91% of the Sun's disk, necessitating the continuous use of solar eclipse glasses for safe viewing.
On the other hand, annular lunar eclipses don't occur due to Earth's larger size in comparison to the Moon. However, the Moon does undergo total lunar eclipses when it passes through Earth's umbral shadow, exhibiting a reddish hue as refracted sunlight filters through the Earth's atmosphere.
In addition to total and annular types, both solar and lunar eclipses can manifest as partial eclipses, adding to the captivating array of celestial phenomena.
How To See the Annular Solar Eclipse
The path of annular solar eclipse begins in Oregon and extends through Northern California, Nevada, Utah, northeastern Arizona, southwestern Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas, subsequently crossing Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, and Brazil.
The celestial event will last between 4 minutes 29 seconds to 4 minutes 52 seconds. To witness the striking ring of fire in the US, the observer must be within the 125 to 137 mile-wide "path of annularity." Astronomer Angela Speck from the University of Texas, San Antonio emphasized the importance of the location in determining the duration of visibility.
The most extended view of the annular solar eclipse will be observed from Padre Island on the Texas coastline, while those situated at the path's northern or southern borders will experience only a momentary glimpse of annularity. From these vantage points, the phenomenon of Baily's beads, shimmering arcs of light during total and annular eclipses, will be visible along the moon's edge.
The eclipse path spans many remote areas of the US Southwest, including renowned national and state parks like Crater Lake in Oregon, Great Basin in Nevada, and Bryce Canyon in Utah. Notable cities in its trajectory are Albuquerque, New Mexico, and San Antonio, Texas.
Considering the mid-October timing, the Southwestern region experiences cooling temperatures, especially during the nights. Much of the path traverses the Colorado Plateau in Utah, characterized by thin, high-altitude air that loses warmth quickly after sunset.
For those who cannot access the eclipse path, alternative options include tuning into diverse webcasts, such as those provided by San Francisco's Exploratorium and the dependable www.timeanddate.com. These platforms offer verified live streams of the celestial event.
RELATED ARTICLE: Solar Eclipse 2021: How To See Rare 'Ring of Fire' for First Time in 4 Years
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