A solar eclipse dubbed the “Ring of Fire” will appear in the skies over North, Central and South America on October 14, creating a special spectacle and a rare opportunity for scientists.
The name “ring of fire” comes from the occurrence of annular solar eclipses, which are like total solar eclipses, except that the moon is at the farthest point in its orbit from Earth, so it cannot completely block the sun. Instead, the fiery light of the sun surrounds the shadow of the moon, creating a so-called “ring of fire”.
Weather permitting, a crescent-shaped partial solar eclipse, where only part of the sun is covered by the moon, will be visible on Oct. 14 in all 49 continental US states, including Alaska, according to NASA .
If you can’t see the eclipse, NASA will do a live broadcast starting at 11:30 a.m. ET on the day of the eclipse, sharing views from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Kirbyville, Texas, and White Sands, New Mexico, according to Kelly Korreck , manager of the eclipse program at NASA, writes CNN.
It is never safe to look directly at the sun without using specialized protection, and there is no phase of an annular eclipse that is safe to view with the naked eye because sunlight is never completely blocked.