Here’s how you can experience the Great American Eclipse and see the spectacular ‘ring of fire’ this Saturday.
Get ready for the most exciting astronomical event of 2023; an annular ‘ring of fire’ solar eclipse.
An annular eclipse is one of the most spectacular types of eclipse, and the next one will cut right across the US on 14 October 2023.
This will be the last chance to glimpse the ring of fire in the United States for 16 years. After Saturday’s fiery extravaganza, the next time we’ll see such a spectacular display from the US will be in 2039, and only then in parts of Alaska.
No longer viewed as the fearful events of yesteryear, eclipses are predictable – and have been calculated for hundreds of years into the future. But even though we now understand why they happen, they are still one of the most exciting and mesmerising sights nature has to offer.
For approximately 4-5 minutes on 14 October 2023, the shadow of the Moon will speed across the western hemisphere, and the spectacular ring of fire will be visible to millions of people across parts of North, Central and South America. Meanwhile, all of America will experience a partial eclipse of the Sun.
But what is an annular eclipse? How is it different from a partial or total solar eclipse? And where can you see the ring of fire?
When is the annular solar eclipse?
The next solar eclipse will take place on 14 October 2023. It’s an annular eclipse, with many dubbing it the ‘Great American Eclipse’ thanks to the spectacular ring of fire that will travel across eight US states, Mexico and South America.
Meanwhile, all of the US will see a partial eclipse.
What time is the annular eclipse?
If you’re in the path of annular totality, the time you can see the eclipse will vary with time zone, as the eclipse makes its way across America. Using UTC*, this will be anywhere between 4:15pm on the west coast of the US (where local time will be in the morning), to 5:44pm on the east coast (where local time will be at sunset).
- First location to see the annular solar eclipse begin: Pacific Ocean before making landfall in Reedsport, Oregon at 9:15am PDT (4:15pm UTC)
- Last US location to see the annular solar eclipse: Port Aransas, Texas at 11:56am CDT (4:56pm UTC)
- Last location to see annular eclipse: Atlantic Ocean, 5:44pm UTC (sunset is at 5:48pm UTC)
*UTC is Coordinated Universal Time, and is the standard time used to set all time zones around the globe.
What time is the annular eclipse in my state?
Using a central-ish location for each US state where totality will be observed, here are the times you will see the Sun become an incredible ring of fire in your state.
A partial eclipse will also be visible at these locations for around 90 minutes before and after totality (ordered from first location to last location to see the ring of fire):
- Eugene, Oregon: 9:16am – 9:20am PDT
- Fairhaven, Oregon: 9:18am – 9:21am PDT
- Davis Creek, California: 9:18am – 9:22am PDT
- Battle Mountain, Nevada: 9:21am – 9:25am PDT
- Ely, Nevada: 9:24am – 9:27am PDT
- Beaver, Utah: 10:26am – 10:30am MDT
- Hanksville, Utah: 10:28am – 10:32am MDT
- Red Mesa, Arizona: 10:30am – 10:34am MDT
- Cortez, Colorado: 10:31am – 10:34am MDT
- Farmington, New Mexico: 10:31am – 10:36am MDT
- Albuquerque, New Mexico: 10:34am – 10:39am MDT
- Roswell, New Mexico: 10:38am – 10:43am MDT
- Odessa, Texas: 11:43am – 11:48am CDT
- San Antonio, Texas: 11:52am – 11:56am CDT
- Corpus Christi, Texas: 11:55am – 12:00pm CDT
- Gulf of Mexico, centre: 11:08am – 11:13am CST
- Hopelchén, Mexico: 11:23am – 11:28am CST
- Bacalar, Mexico: 12:29pm – 12:33pm EST
- Belize City, Belize: 11:31am – 11:37am CST
- French Cay, Bay Islands, Honduras: 11:38am – 11:42am CST
- Gualaco, Honduras: 11:41am – 11:47am CST
- El Cacao, Nicaragua: 11:50am – 11:55am CST
- Limón, Costa Rica: 12:02pm – 12:03pm CST
- Aguadulce, Panama: 1:10pm – 1:15pm EST
- Pizarro, Columbia: 1:25pm – 1:30pm COT
- San Pedro, Columbia: 1:30pm – 1:35pm COT
- La Victoria (Pacoa), Columbia: 1:50pm – 1:55pm COT
- Jutaí, Brazil: 3:04pm – 3:09pm AMT
- Tefé, Brazil: 3:09pm – 3:14pm AMT
- São Félix do Xingu, Brazil: 4:32pm – 4:37pm BRT
- Guadalupe, Brazil: 4:40pm – 4:44pm BRT
- Caicó, Brazil: 4:43pm – 4:47pm BRT (after total, a partially eclipsed Sun will sink below the horizon at 5:21pm BRT)
- Atlantic Ocean: 5:44pm – 5:48pm UTC-2 (sunset is at 5:49pm when a thin crescent Sun will sink below the horizon)
View an interactive eclipse map to determine the exact time of partial and maximum eclipse where you are. This will be the last chance to see a ring of fire eclipse in this part of the world until 2046.
“Saturday’s Annular Solar Eclipse will be visible for anyone within a 120-mile band that sweeps from the western US. states of Oregon and Nevada, through Utah, New Mexico and Texas, and then onto the Yucatan Peninsula, Nicaragua, Panama and Columbia before heading east through Brazil,” says Dr Darren Baskill, astronomy lecturer at the University of Sussex.
Where will the annular eclipse be visible?
The annular solar eclipse will be visible from North, Central, and South America on 14 October 2023.
All of America and Canada will experience a partial solar eclipse on this date, but only a few US states along with Mexico and South America will see the spectacular ‘ring of fire’. Those lucky enough to be in the path of the annular eclipse will also experience a partial eclipse before and after the ring of fire.
The ring of fire will travel across eight states, then cross into South America passing over Northern Brazil before ending in the Atlantic Ocean at sunset – a spectacular sight for any ships in the vicinity to see an annular solar eclipse sinking below the horizon.
The first US state to see the ring of fire will be Oregon, followed by California, then Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas.
The path of the annular solar eclipse will then move across Mexico, then Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
After that, it will pass over Panama, then Colombia and Brazil, before ending in the Atlantic Ocean.
From start to finish, the eclipse on 14 October will last for around 2.5 hours in total:
- Partial solar eclipse: Approximately 1 hour, 15 minutes
- Annular solar eclipse: Approximately 4-5 minutes
- Partial solar eclipse: Approximately 1 hour, 15 minutes
Although the path of totality will travel across a wide area in terms of longitude, the path itself is actually very narrow. You’ll have to be in the right location if you want to see the spectacular, but rare, ring of fire.
At its widest point, the path of annularity will measure 220km (137 miles) wide, while at its narrowest, will measure just 190km (118 miles) wide. Viewers watching from the coast of Nicaragua and Costa Rica will see the longest duration of totality, lasting over 5 minutes.
Please note that if you’re planning to travel, all Navajo Tribal Parks will be closed for the duration of the event, out of respect for Navajo cultural beliefs.
The following parks will be closed during the eclipse on 14 October 2023:
- Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
- Four Corners Monument Navajo Tribal Park
- Parts of the Tséyi’ Diné Heritage Area in Canyon de Chelly National Monument
Sorry UK viewers, this solar eclipse is not visible from our side of the pond.
How to view the annular solar eclipse on 14 October:
For those of us not in the path of the eclipse, you can still watch it via the official NASA broadcast on their YouTube channel, which begins streaming at 4:30pm on 14 October 2023.
If you’re lucky enough to be in a position to watch the eclipse, either partial or annular, be sure to wear eye protection. There are special purpose-made eclipse glasses, or handheld solar viewers that you can buy. These are different from regular sunglasses; they’re much darker and comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard for filters for direct viewing of the Sun.
Never look directly at the Sun.
And please don’t look at the Sun through a camera, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device, as it will not only burn through the filter – but also injure your eyes.
Another way to view the eclipse is by using a pinhole projector. It’s an indirect method, and you’ll need something with a small hole in it, like a hole punched into a piece of card or a colander (the latter is fun because you’ll end up with lots of Suns).
Stand with the Sun behind you, and hold your DIY projector above a smooth white surface, like a piece of white copy paper placed on the ground, and an image of the Sun will be projected onto the paper below. It’s a fun project, and a great way to view the eclipse safely!
What does an annular eclipse look like?
An annular eclipse, aka ring of fire, looks exactly what it sounds like; a fiery, radiant halo against a darkened sky. It happens when the Moon is directly in front of the Sun, leaving only the outer edge of the Sun visible around the edge of the Moon.
Not every solar eclipse will result in a ring of fire, however, the Moon must be far enough away from us in its elliptical orbit to not block out all of the Sun.
What is an annular solar eclipse?
An annular eclipse (aka ring of fire eclipse) is a type of solar eclipse that occurs when the Moon passes directly in front of the Sun, but does not completely block out the light. As a result, the Sun’s outer edge, known as the ‘ring of fire’ or the ‘annulus’, remains visible around the Moon, like a halo of light.
Because the Moon orbits the Earth in an ellipse, the distance between the Earth and the Moon varies throughout the year. For an annular eclipse to occur, the Moon must be in its new Moon phase, and far enough away from Earth so that it looks small. It’s therefore unable to completely block out the Sun’s central disc.
Annular eclipses are visually striking and occur less frequently than partial (when only a portion of the Sun is obscured by the Moon, resulting in a crescent-shaped Sun) and total solar eclipses (when the Moon completely covers the Sun). Annular eclipses are a rare treat, and one that you’ll remember for many years to come.
When is the next solar eclipse?
For the UK, the next solar eclipse will be a partial eclipse in March 2025, but we’ve got a long time to wait until the next total eclipse; September 2090.
Here is a list of upcoming solar eclipses worldwide:
- 14 October 2023: Annular solar eclipse, North & South America
- 8 April 2024: Total solar eclipse, Mexico, US & Canada
- 2 October 2024: Annular solar eclipse, Easter Island & Chile
- 29 March 2025: Partial solar eclipse, UK & Europe
- 21 September 2025: Partial solar eclipse, New Zealand
- 17 February 2026: Annular solar eclipse, Antarctica
- 12 August 2026: Total solar eclipse, Iceland and Spain
What phase is the Moon in during a solar eclipse?
A solar eclipse can only happen during a new Moon phase. This is because during a new Moon, the Moon is located between the Sun and the Earth – which is where the Moon needs to be in order to block out light from the Sun. It’s quite simple when you think about it!
While in this straight-line configuration, the Moon is able to pass in front of the Sun (from our viewpoint on Earth), and we get a solar eclipse.
However, not every new Moon will result in a solar eclipse, so we don’t get them every month. This is because the Moon orbits the Earth on a plane that is slightly different from Earth’s orbit around the Sun, by around 5 degrees. This small difference is usually enough so the new Moon can pass above or below the Sun, without blocking out the Sun – so no eclipse.
That means solar eclipses can only occur when the Moon passes through Earth’s orbital plane, during a new Moon phase.
Why don’t solar eclipses last as long as lunar eclipses?
During an eclipse, totality can range from just a few seconds to minutes, whereas for a lunar eclipse, totality can last for an hour – with the whole event lasting several hours.
This difference is down to the different relative sizes of the Earth and Moon, i.e., the body casting the shadow. In a lunar eclipse, it’s the Earth casting a shadow onto the Moon, whereas in a solar eclipse it’s the Moon casting a shadow onto the Earth.
What happens if you look at a solar eclipse?
If you’ve already looked at a solar eclipse, then it’s quite possible you’ve damaged your retinas.
Solar retinopathy can occur when intense light energy (the Sun of course being the source) damages the cells in the retina. It can occur even if you don’t immediately notice any symptoms. The extent of damage varies from person to person, and can depend on factors like how long you stared at the eclipse, as well as the specific conditions of the eclipse.
It can manifest itself as a blind spot in your central vision that you can’t see around. There are currently no guidelines, and no treatment available for this type of damage; you just have to wait for it to go away.
So, if you’re considering watching the solar eclipse with your naked eyes, please don’t.
- Review NASA’s annular eclipse safety guidelines for more information.
If you are experiencing watering eyes, eye soreness, photosensitivity and headaches after watching the eclipse, then these are all symptoms of a mild case of solar retinopathy. More serious cases include blurry vision, decreased colour vision, difficulty discerning shapes, distorted vision, one or more blind spots and/or dim vision. In both cases, your vision should gradually improve over the following weeks and months.
In more extreme cases, you risk permanently damaging your retinas, resulting in low vision, or even blindness. People who have undergone cataract surgery and no longer have a natural lens are more at risk of permanently damaging their eyes. Multiple instances of solar retinopathy can also cause permanent damage, so prevention is of the utmost importance.
If you think you might have solar retinopathy, see your GP, or eye doctor as soon as possible so a healthcare professional can examine your eyes for damage.
Why do eclipses always come in pairs?
Put simply, eclipses always come in pairs it’s because of the way the Moon orbits the Earth.
The Moon’s orbit is tilted, by around 5 degrees when compared to the plane of Earth’s orbit around the Sun. This means that the Moon usually passes above or below the plane of Earth’s orbit. But every so often, the new Moon will align with this plane, coming between the Earth and the Sun and giving us a solar eclipse.
When the Earth subsequently passes between the Sun, and the now-full Moon around two weeks later (or two weeks before), the Moon is still nicely aligned, and we get a lunar eclipse. In this instance, the ‘paired’ lunar eclipse will be on 28 October 2023.
So it’s a myth that solar eclipses are rarer than lunar eclipses; they occur in roughly equal numbers, around twice every year. But you’d be forgiven for thinking lunar eclipses are more common; a lunar eclipse can be seen wherever the Moon is above the horizon, whereas a solar eclipse can only be seen from a narrow path across the globe.
And this is simply due to the Moon being smaller than the Earth. Because the shadow cast by the Moon onto the Earth during a solar eclipse is much smaller than a shadow of the Earth cast onto the Moon during a lunar eclipse, a solar eclipse is much shorter in duration.
About our expert
Dr Darren Baskill is an outreach officer and lecturer in the department of physics and astronomy at the University of Sussex. He previously lectured at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, where he also initiated the annual Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition.
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