On October 2, 2024, an annular solar eclipse will grace the skies over parts of the Pacific Ocean, southern Chile, and southern Argentina. This celestial event, often referred to as a “ring of fire” eclipse, occurs when the moon covers the center of the sun, leaving a bright ring of sunlight visible around its edges.
What is an Annular Solar Eclipse?
An annular solar eclipse happens when the moon is slightly farther from Earth than during a total solar eclipse. As a result, the moon does not completely cover the sun, leaving a ring of sunlight visible. This event is different from a total solar eclipse, where the moon entirely blocks the sun’s light.
The October 2, 2024, eclipse will have an eclipse magnitude of 0.9326, meaning about 93% of the sun will be obscured by the moon. The moon will appear 6.4% smaller than average, making the ring of fire more pronounced.
Where Can You See the Eclipse?
The path of annularity will cross the Pacific Ocean, southern Chile, and southern Argentina. The best location will be Rapa Nui, or Easter Island inChile, where the eclipse will last more than five and a half minutes.
Unfortunately it won’t be visible in Portugal, however, the annular eclipse on January 26th will be visible from Spain and Portugal.
