An annular eclipse will pass from Oregon to Texas on Saturday, offering millions of people the opportunity to witness a spectacular “ring of fire” in the skies. As cities in the path are bracing for a flock of visitors this weekend, universities, parks, museums and planetariums are preparing to host and educate eager viewers.
An annular solar eclipse takes place when the moon is farthest from Earth. As it passes the sun, the moon does not block it entirely and instead leaves the sun’s bright, outer edges visible, forming a fiery ring, or annulus, around the moon.
This weekend’s celestial display will travel through eight states, starting in Eugene, Oregon, where it will last for three minutes and 55 seconds. Along with educational events, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in Portland will be screening a livestream of the eclipse from different cities across the country.
In Albuquerque, New Mexico, the eclipse coincides with the annual ascension of 500 hot air balloons for the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, which last year attracted nearly 830,000 people from around the world; it’s expected to top that with the combination of the eclipse sighting this year. Searches for domestic flights to Albuquerque have increased by 115% for the period of 11-17 October compared with the same time last year.
“To actually see an event like this just gives you a different feeling about nature,” Richard Rand, the chair of the physics and astronomy department at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, told the Guardian. On 14 October, the campus will host a number of educational activities and a viewing of the ring of fire, which at its peak will last four minutes and 49 seconds.
“Even though I’m an astronomer, I found it quite spooky,” said Rand, who has experienced two annular eclipses in the past, the most recent happening in 2012.
In San Antonio, the partial eclipse will begin at 10.23am and reach its maximum coverage at 11.54am. Viewings will take place near Woodlawn Lake and in several other parks, with community events like pinhole viewing, galaxy slime and an astronaut training camp obstacle course.
Corpus Christi, Texas, is the last major site in the US to capture the eclipse, and where the peak duration is estimated to be the longest at five minutes, one second. The city’s hotels have experienced a 55% increase in reservations for the weekend of 13-15 October compared with the same period last year, according to an email from a Visit Corpus Christi representative.
For those planning to catch the ring of fire, proper eclipse viewing is paramount. Never look directly at the sun as it may cause permanent damage. Having eye protection like certified eyeglasses or handheld solar viewers is crucial, while sunglasses won’t protect the eyes.
“Ordinary sunglasses just aren’t dark enough,” said Barbara Ryden, a professor of astronomy at the Ohio State University. Retinas in the human eyes are sensitive to light, and looking at the eclipse without proper protection can lead to eye damage.
“Avoid looking at the sun at all, even for just a second,” Ryden stressed to the Guardian.
Locations and durations of the annular eclipse event can be found here. On 8 April 2024, an even rarer total solar eclipse will stretch across 10 states from Texas to Maine, and is predicted to attract millions of tourists.
This article was amended on 11 October 2023 to correct the number of annular eclipses astronomer Richard Rand has experienced. He has seen two and this one will be his third.
