On October 14, millions of people witnessed an annular solar eclipse as it swept through a narrow path spanning eight US states from Oregon to Texas.
A View to Behold
Many skywatchers turned their cameras to the sky to capture the celestial phenomenon. This includes journalist and science writer David Baron, a veteran eclipse chaser who traveled to northwest New Mexico to view this rare event.
In his place in New Mexico, Baron is at a very remote overlook over some badlands. This place has eroded cliffs with striped purple, gray, and beige. During the solar eclipse, these colors changed as the moon moved in front of the Sun, making the landscape dimmer. As the colors got deeper, the contrast was also heightened. The surroundings also got colder since the temperature dropped by 10 to 15 degrees.
Baron said he is still looking forward to a total solar eclipse like the one in 2017. Baron is willing to travel to the other side of the world for the next total solar eclipse next year as it will cross the US from Texas to Maine.
Other skywatchers shared their experiences as they watched the "ring of fire" eclipse. Brett Tingley witnessed the solar eclipse from Great Basin National Park in Nevada, where the clouds initially threatened to ruin the view. Fortunately, the sky cleared for the actual moment of annularity, with the moon leaving just a ring of sunlight around its edge.
At Monument Valley in Utah, a stunning composite image of the annular solar eclipse was captured by Rajat Kumar Pal. The photo was taken right after sunrise, which is seen at the left side of the Sentinel Mesa. It shows a beautiful diffraction of the Sun's rays at the mesa wall while giving an idea of where the Sun will rise that day.
One of the strangest effects of solar eclipses is the shadow they cast on the ground. Eclipse watcher Nicole Edwards captured a view of the partial phase of an annular solar eclipse in the shadows of tree leaves in Fort Worth, Texas.
Since the annular solar eclipse passed over many large cities across the US, some communities combined the event with other festivals or local celebrations. In Albuquerque, a crowd of spectators watched the eclipse with their glasses as they witnessed it from the 51st Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
Preparing for the Next Eclipse
On April 8, 2024, millions of people will have the chance to see a total solar eclipse, with the Moon's shadow crossing the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. This event will only last a few minutes, depending on location.
An hour before totality, a partial eclipse can be seen with the Moon taking a larger and larger bite out of the Sun. As more and more of the Sun gets eclipsed, skywatchers might notice some strange lighting effects. Getting closer to totality, a rarer phenomenon can be observed in the form of shadow bands or undulating shadows mostly seen on plain surfaces.
As the last rays of the Sun disappear, Earth observers can see what looks like a string of beads along the limb of the Moon. Also known as Baily's beads, they are caused by sunlight slipping through lunar valleys.
Eye protection is the most important thing to remember while preparing for the 2024 solar eclipse. Although it may be tempting to look at the Sun directly, it is not recommended since the UV rays from the Sun can burn the retinas and cause permanent damage to one's vision.
Check out more news and information on the Ring of Fire Solar Eclipse in Science Times.
