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A rare “ring of fire” an annular solar eclipse happens this week on June 10. Find out where to watch to get the best views of this spectacle, as well as how to do so safely.
In the morning skies of Thursday, June 10, an annular solar eclipse will occur. This is a partial blocking of the sun’s light, resulting in a phenomenon referred to as a “ring of fire.” During such an eclipse, the moon passes in front of the sun but is not close enough to fully block the solar disk.
“As the pair rises higher in the sky, the silhouette of the Moon will gradually shift off the sun to the lower left,” NASA said, “allowing more of the Sun to show until the eclipse ends.”
For those in the US, this full ring will not be visible. Instead, a crescent Sun will emerge from behind the Moon at sunrise.
An annular solar eclipse is a partial eclipse. It differs from a total eclipse, when the moon passes directly between the Earth and sun, completely blocking the sun’s light.
Those living in northern latitudes and the eastern US will get the best views of the annular eclipse. There is also some possible viewing in the Midwest and mid-Atlantic.
For most in the US, a sickle-shaped Sun will stretch across the northerly and easternmost portions of the Lower 48, the Washington Post reported. The crescent sun will emerge from behind the interceding moon at sunrise. Still, even without the full-on “ring of fire,” it will be a cool sight to witness.
Those in Canada–specifically, in parts of Ontario, Quebec, and Nunavut–will be able to see a full view of the “Ring of Fire.” Unfortunately, the travel bans are still in effect, so Americans won’t be able to slip over the border to watch the event.
Partial crescent shapes will be seen as far south as Virginia Beach, while viewers in Louisville will see something akin to a circular bite out of the sun’s lower-left corner.
For those on the East Coast, to see the eclipse, look to the east. According to NASA, the sun and moon will rise together in the east-northeast sky at around 5:42 AM–but that number changes depending on your location. At the northernmost tip of Maine, the sun will rise at 4:40 AM, with maximum eclipse around 5:39 AM.
The duration will last a maximum of three minutes and 51 seconds, according to EarthSky, which features an animated graphic depicting the path of the movement of the astronomical objects.
The moon will eclipse the sun at 6:53 AM ET.
Because the direct rays of the sun will not be fully blotted out by the moon, ISO-certified glasses solar eclipse glasses will be necessary to avoid damaging your eyes. They can be purchased from a number of vendors.
If you still have some safety glasses left over from the 2017 total solar eclipse, make sure to inspect them for any imperfections, scratches, or perforations that could compromise their safety.
Lastly, if you’re worried about how to reduce wrinkles, especially around the eyes, be careful not to squint. Even with glasses, it can be an automatic reflex people aren’t even aware of.
