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Today’s annular solar eclipse turns the sun into a glorious ‘ring of fire’. Here’s what you need to know.

Vaseline October 2, 2024

LIVE: Annular Solar Eclipse – October 2, 2024 – YouTube
LIVE: Annular Solar Eclipse - October 2, 2024 - YouTube

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Today (October 2) one annular solar eclipse will begin its journey through parts of the Pacific Ocean, southern Chile and southern Argentina.

If you can’t see the eclipse in person, you can watch the annular solar eclipse online here at Space.com, courtesy of TimeandDate, and follow all the action on our live solar eclipse updates page. The annular phase of the eclipse will first be visible from Earth at 12:50 PM EDT (1650 GMT); However, the best time to watch live streams is from 3:03 PM to 3:09 PM EDT (1903 to 1909 GMT), when the Ring of Fire can be seen from Easter Island (also known as Rapa Nui) for a maximum of 6 minutes and 11 seconds.

During a solar eclipse, the moon slides between the sun and the Earth, casting a shadow on our planet. The moon’s orbit around Earth is somewhat elliptical: sometimes it is farther from Earth, and sometimes it is closer. During an annular or ‘ring of fire’ eclipse, the moon is relatively far away Earth and does not completely cover the solar disk, as we see with a total solar eclipse. Instead, it leaves a distinct ring of light in the air: the ‘ring of fire’.

According to Time and Date, only about 175,000 people live within the annular path for the current eclipse – a route between 265 and 331 kilometers wide. Those fortunate enough to be within that band will experience a “ring of fire”; those out there, but still relatively close enough, will see a partial solar eclipse, where the moon appears to take a “bite” out of the sun.

Where is it visible?

map showing the path of the annular solar eclipse across Earth, crossing only land in South America.

A map of the annular solar eclipse of October 2, 2024. (Image credit: Michael Zeiler GreatAmericanEclipse.com)

Here are some notable locations where the annular solar eclipse will take place.

Rapa Nui/Easter Island, Chile (5 minutes, 38 seconds to 6 minutes, 12 seconds annular from 2:03 PM EAST, 67 degrees above North)
Cochrane, Chile (5 minutes, 40 seconds annular from 5:21 PM CLST, 26 degrees above NNW)
Perito Moreno National ParkArgentina (6 minutes, 17 seconds annular from 5:21 PM ART, 25 degrees above NNW)
Puerto Deseado, Argentina (3 minutes, 22 seconds annular from 5:27 PM ART, 20 degrees above NNW)
Puerto San Julian, Argentina (5 minutes, 12 seconds annular from 5:24 PM ART, 21 degrees above NNW)

Here is a list of major cities or other prominent locations that will experience a partial solar eclipse today, along with the percentage coverage of the sun.

Galapagos Islands (1%)
La Paz, Bolivia (1%)
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (9%)
São Paulo, Brazil (10%)
Buenos Aires, Argentina (42%)
Montevideo, Uruguay (42%)
Santiago, Chile (44%)
Villarrica, Chile (63%)
El Calafate, Argentina (83%)
Falkland Islands (84%)
South Georgia Island (76%)
Punta Arenas, Chile (75%)
Ushuaia, Argentina (72%)
Elephant Island (56%)
Port Lockroy, Antarctica (44%)

during the partial solar eclipse, the moon partially covers the sun, making the sun appear as a large orange crescent in the partly cloudy sky.

A partial solar eclipse can be seen from Arlington, Virginia, Thursday, June 10, 2021. (Image credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls)

How to watch the solar eclipse

REMEMBER to NEVER look directly at the sun without safety equipment. You’ll need solar filters to view this eclipse safely; Whether you’re going to see the ‘ring of fire’ or a partial solar eclipse, the dangers are the same. Observers will need to wear solar eclipse glasses, and cameras, telescopes and binoculars must have solar filters placed in front of their lenses at all times. Us how to look at the sun safely guide tells you everything you need to know about safe solar observations.

Don’t forget: You can always watch the annular solar eclipse online here on Space.com, courtesy of TimeandDate.

Editor’s note: If you get a great photo of the solar eclipse and would like to share it with Space.com readers, send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to [email protected].

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first Drop

Today’s annular solar eclipse turns the sun into a glorious ‘ring of fire’. Here’s what you need to know.

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Today’s annular solar eclipse turns the sun into a glorious ‘ring of fire’. Here’s what you need to know.

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