An annular “Ring of Fire” solar eclipse on May 20, 2012. Photo Credit: NASA/ Bill Dunford
According to NASA, on Saturday, October 14, there will be an eclipse. The moon will pass between Earth and the Sun, which will be visible to people across the United States. NASA will host a live coverage of the eclipse starting at 11:30 a.m. EDT. They will also be going live on social media and will be broadcasting interviews that day.
An annular solar eclipse, also known as a Ring of Fire, is happening. It is called that because as an annular eclipse, the moon is farther away from the Earth. The moon will appear smaller and won’t block out the whole sun when it passes in front of our stars. The moon will leave a bright ring of sun visible at the eclipse peak, which will create the ring of fire effect.
People can watch the eclipse coverage live on NASA television, the NASA app, and the NASA website. They will also broadcast it live on Facebook, X, and YouTube. The eclipse will be visible along a narrow path that stretches from Oregon to Texas. People who live across the contiguous part of the U.S. hopefully can see it. Puerto Rico and parts of Alaska and Hawaii will see part of the sun that is covered by the moon, but won’t be able to see the ring of fire.
Annular eclipses, including the Ring of Fire, happen every one to two years, according to exploratorium.edu. You can look forward to a less common eclipse, a total solar eclipse, next year. Total eclipses are different from annular eclipses because during a total eclipse, the moon completely blocks the sun. The next total solar eclipse will take place on April 8, 2024. NASA reported, “It will be the last total solar eclipse visible from the contiguous United States until 2044.” Still, be sure to look outside on October 14 to see the Ring of Fire.
