Unlock the Secrets of the Astonishing 'Ring of Fire' Eclipse

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This Saturday, an extraordinary event will take place across North, Central, and South America. Witness a magnificent annular solar eclipse that will form a stunning "ring of fire" in the sky.

Annular solar eclipses, similar to total solar eclipses, occur when the moon is at its farthest point from Earth in its orbit. As a result, the moon cannot completely obstruct the sun, leading to the formation of a luminous ring known as the "ring of fire" around the shadow cast by the moon.

This captivating phenomenon should not be overlooked, as per NASA, the next occurrence of an annular eclipse in this region will not take place until 2046.

"It's an unparalleled experience," stated Mitzi Adams, the assistant chief of the Heliophysics and Planetary Science Branch at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center​. She describes it as akin to having a bowl placed directly above the Earth, right where you are standing. During the midday, the darkness grows, but the light remains visible along the edges."

The annular solar eclipse is scheduled to commence in the United States at 9:13 a.m. PT (12:13 p.m. ET). It will traverse from Oregon to the Gulf Coast in Texas, making appearances in Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico along the way. Additionally, parts of California, Idaho, Colorado, and Arizona will also be able to witness the event. The eclipse is expected to conclude in the US at 12:03 p.m. CT (1:03 p.m. ET).

Following its departure from the US, the eclipse will journey through Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia before eventually concluding off the Atlantic coast of South America in Natal, Brazil.

A "ring of fire" can be seen around the moon during an annular eclipse visible from Chiayi in southern Taiwan on June 21, 2020.

A crescent-shaped partial solar eclipse, where only a portion of the sun is obscured by the moon, will be visible in all 49 continental US states, including Alaska, if weather conditions allow. NASA recommends visiting the Great American Eclipse website or TimeandDate.com to find out the specific timing and visibility of the eclipse in your area.

if you're unable to witness the eclipse firsthand? NASA has organized a live stream that will commence at 11:30 a.m. ET on the day of the eclipse. Viewers will get the opportunity to see captivating footage from various locations, including Albuquerque, New Mexico; Kerrville, Texas; and White Sands, New Mexico. Kelly Korreck, eclipse program manager at NASA, confirmed the information.

During the annular eclipse, observers situated along its path will witness multiple stages of the phenomenon. Initially, as the moon commences its trajectory in front of the sun, a crescent-shaped partial eclipse will ensue, resembling the image of the moon nibbling away at our radiant star.

The moon glides in front of the sun, creating a brilliant halo of light during an annular eclipse at a waterfront park in Yokohama, near Tokyo, on Monday, May 21, 2012. Millions across Asia witnessed the extraordinary "ring of fire" eclipse that adorned the skies early that morning. This annular eclipse, where the moon partially obscures the sun, leaving only a golden ring outlining its edges, was visible to a vast expanse of the continent. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

This eclipse is a must-see event. After one hour and 20 minutes of the partial eclipse, the moon will align perfectly with the sun, resulting in the mesmerizing ring of fire, also known as annularity. The duration of this phase will vary from one to five minutes, depending on your position along the path.

During annularity, the sky darkens, although not to the same extent as a total solar eclipse, where all sunlight is completely obscured. NASA states that animals may exhibit behavior similar to dusk, and the air may feel slightly cooler. The moon will proceed to cross the sun for an additional hour and 20 minutes, resulting in another partial eclipse, before eventually disappearing from view.

How to safely watch the annular solar eclipse

On August 21, 2017, spectators eagerly observed the solar eclipse reaching its totality from Clingmans Dome, the highest peak in Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Standing at an impressive elevation of 6,643 feet (2,025 meters), Clingmans Dome offered an ideal vantage point for this celestial event. The captivating moment was captured by Jonathan Ernst of Reuters, with the exact location coordinates of the image recorded as 35º33'24" N and 83º29'46" W.

Here's what can occur if you observe an eclipse incorrectly and how to prevent it this weekend. It is always unsafe to directly gaze at the sun unless you have appropriate protective gear, and no stage of an annular or partial eclipse is safe to observe with the naked eye as the sun's light is never completely obstructed.

To safely view the annular eclipse, it is important to wear solar eclipse glasses or use a handheld solar viewer that meets the ISO 12312-2 standards. Additionally, if you wish to observe the sun with a telescope, binoculars, or camera, make sure to equip it with a proper solar filter on the front. According to NASA, it is crucial not to look at the sun through any optical device, such as a camera lens, telescope, or binoculars, while wearing eclipse glasses or using a handheld solar viewer. This is because the concentrated solar rays can still burn through the filter on the glasses or viewer, potentially causing severe eye damage.

Eclipse glasses allow for the safe viewing of all phases of an annular or partial solar eclipse.

David Gray/Reuters

If you normally wear eyeglasses, keep them on and put eclipse glasses over them or hold a handheld viewer in front of them, according to the American Astronomical Society.

Put on your eclipse glasses before looking up and remember to turn away from the sun before you remove them again.

An annular eclipse is seen in Tokyo May 21, 2012.

Kim Kyung Hoon/Reuters

Where clouds could wreck your view of the ring of fire eclipse

Always keep an eye on any children wearing eclipse glasses to make sure they dont remove them while looking at the sun.

Sunglasses cannot be substituted for eclipse glasses or solar viewers as the latter are 100,000 times darker and adhere to international standards. It is important not to utilize torn, scratched, or damaged eclipse glasses or solar viewers. To ensure safety, refer to the list compiled by the American Astronomical Society for reliable manufacturers and resellers of eclipse glasses and filters for optical devices such as cameras and smartphones.

Viewing an eclipse indirectly is possible by using a pinhole projector, like a hole pierced through an index card. To correctly use this method, stand with your back to the sun and hold up the card. The pinhole will project an image of the sun onto the ground or another surface. However, it is important not to face the sun or directly observe it through the pinhole.

Other pinhole projectors that can be used include colanders, straw hats, or any object with tiny openings. These openings will project the crescent shape of the sun during a partial eclipse or a ring shape during an annular eclipse.

Taking photographs of the eclipse.

Want to document your memories of the eclipse with captivating photographs? To ensure the safety of your camera, make sure it is equipped with a reliable solar filter. Additionally, don't overlook the importance of using a tripod to prevent any blurriness in your image of the captivating "ring of fire" as the skies progressively darken.

Beautiful mountain landscape. Famous Thor's Hammer hoodoo. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA

MargaretW/iStockphoto/Getty Images

Eclipse fever is beginning to ignite as the anticipation grows for the upcoming ring of fire eclipse. For optimal viewing, NASA suggests manually adjusting focus and exposure on your camera to compensate for the descending darkness. If you're interested in capturing images or videos of the annular eclipse, the American Astronomical Society has some helpful tips.

During the eclipse, make sure to not only focus on the sky but also take in the unique darkened scenery and the contrasting shadows caused by the celestial event. If you happen to be standing near a leafy tree, you might notice the eclipse casting intricate patterns on the ground through the gaps between the leaves, which could make for stunning photographs.

According to NASA photographer Bill Ingalls, the real beauty lies in capturing the reactions of the people around you as they point, gaze, and marvel at the phenomenon. These genuine moments of awe and emotion will truly reflect the significance of the eclipse experience.