A rare annular solar eclipse occurred over the Americas on Saturday, creating a “ring of fire” in the sky. Millions of people in North, Central, and South America were able to witness this celestial spectacle. During an annular solar eclipse, the moon is positioned at the farthest point from Earth in its orbit, which prevents it from completely blocking the sun. As a result, the sun’s fiery light forms a ring around the moon’s shadow, producing the ring of fire effect. The eclipse began in Oregon and ended off the Atlantic coast of Brazil, passing over various cities and causing a temporary darkness and drop in temperature.
The eclipse was visible as a crescent-shaped partial solar eclipse for those outside the direct path. This gave the appearance of the moon taking a bite out of the sun. The phenomenon also created little crescents on the ground, reflecting off car windshields and skyscraper windows. The spaces between leaves on trees acted as pinholes, allowing light to pass through and creating individual crescents. For those who missed this year’s annular eclipse, there is another opportunity to witness a total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, as it passes over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. So there is still a chance to use certified eclipse glasses and solar viewers to safely observe this fascinating event.
