Exactly What You Will See During The ‘Ring Of Fire’ Solar Eclipse

What will happen during the “ring of fire” annular solar eclipse on October 14, 2023? That depends on where you watch it from—but you’ll need solar eclipse glasses.

All of the Americas—North, Central and South—will on that day see a partial eclipse of the sun. However, only those within a 125 miles wide path will be able to see the trademark circle of light around the moon during the day.

Annular solar eclipse is can be confusing. Firstly, you need to know the difference between an annular and a total solar eclipse:

However, even if you know what to expect from different kinds of eclipses you’ll discover that all of the attention is on what those within that path will see, though even if you are in exactly the right place to see the “ring of fire,” most of the event will still be a partial solar eclipse. So most of the event is no different to what everyone else can see.

This is where two really useful websites come in:

Using the ‘Eclipse Calculator’ On TimeAndDate.com

Go to TimeAndDate.com’s page for this eclipse and type in the name of any city and you’ll see a basic simulation of what the eclipse will look like above a timetable of exactly what you’ll see and when during the eclipse.

Using The Eclipse Simulator On Eclipse2024.org

Eclipse2024.org’s Eclipse Simulator offers an interactive map that you can type in the name of any city. It will then given you a detailed visual representation of exactly what you’ll see—complete with a dip in the light levels—for your location, or very close to it. It also offers all of the simulations as videos on its YouTube channel.

What Will Happen During The ‘Ring Of Fire’ Solar Eclipse From Within The Path

The path goes through nine states in the U.S. Southwest—Oregon, California, Nevada (a very small part of) Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas—as well as through Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia and Brazil.

Everyone inside that narrow path will see a growing partial solar eclipse followed by a magical moment when, for just a few minutes, the sun’s center is covered by the moon. Then it’s back to a partial solar eclipse as the moon retreats.

Let’s take the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico, as an example, which is close to the centerline inside the path of the “ring of fire.” This is the schedule TimeAndDate.com gives for Albuquerque:

As you can see, it tells you up top that the entire event will last for 2 hours, 56 minutes and that annularity (the “ring of fire”) will last for 4 minutes, 48 seconds. You also gets statistics about exactly where the sun will be in the sky.

Now look at Eclipse2024.org’s simulation for Albuquerque and you can watch a run-through of exactly what you’ll see if you’re in Albuquerque:

What Will Happen During The ‘Ring Of Fire’ Solar Eclipse From Outside The Path

If you’re not inside the path for the “ring of fire” on October 14, but you are in the Americas somewhere, you will see a partial solar eclipse. However, exactly how much of the sun will be covered by the moon depends on your proximity to that path.

For example, if you’re in New York City you’ll see just 23% of the sun blocked by the moon, according to this schedule and this simulation:

If you’re much closer to the path in Las Vegas you’ll see 82% of the sun eclipsed according to this schedule and this simulation:

Another really easy way of checking out exactly how much of the sun will be blocked by the moon is for any given location is to use French eclipse-chaser Xavier Jubier’s interactive Google Map.

How To Safely Watch A Solar Eclipse

Never look at the partial or annular phases of any eclipse without certified eye protection. Wherever you are in the Americas during this eclipse you will need solar eclipse glasses to safely view it—even the “ring of fire” moment because only 91% of the sun’s disk will be covered by the new moon. An annular solar eclipse is, in effect, a pretty spectacular partial solar eclipse.

I’m an expert on eclipses—the editor of WhenIsTheNextEclipse.com and author of The Complete Guide To The Great North American Eclipse of April 8, 2024. For the very latest on the “ring of fire” solar eclipse check my main feed for new articles each day.

Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.

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