What is 'Ring of Fire' eclipse? Here's how and when to see the celestial event
WASHINGTON, DC: A 'Ring of Fire' solar eclipse on Saturday, October 14 will be the first of two uncommon astronomical phenomena that people in the Americas can see in the coming months.
An annular solar eclipse, also referred to as a 'Ring of Fire' eclipse, takes place when the Moon aligns between the Earth and the Sun. However, the Moon seems smaller than the Sun because it’s further from the Earth than during a total solar eclipse.
Consequently, it doesn’t completely obscure the Sun’s disk, creating a bright outer ring known as a "Ring of Fire" per Space.
According to officials, a partial ring of fire eclipse will take place on Saturday before a total solar eclipse in April, per Guardian.
Where can you watch Ring of Fire eclipse 2023?
The complete spectacle of the eclipse will be observable along a slim path stretching from Oregon to Texas, encompassing regions of Nevada, Utah, the Four Corners area, New Mexico, and southern Texas.
However, its partial impact can be witnessed across the US, Mexico, and the majority of Canada, per Forbes.
What time is Ring of Fire Eclipse 2023?
The upcoming "Ring of Fire" on Saturday will be observable for individuals located along a trajectory from Oregon to Texas. In the US, the phenomenon will commence at 9.13 am PT off the coast of Oregon and conclude in Texas at 12.03 pm CT.
San Antonio, the largest US city in the path of the eclipse, along with other localities in the eclipse’s trajectory, is gearing up to accommodate an influx of visitors.
While regions of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and Alaska will witness a partial eclipse, they won’t experience the "Ring of Fire" effect, according to NASA officials.
How to see Ring of Fire Eclipse 2023?
The agency has advised individuals who wish to observe a solar eclipse to use specialized solar filters for their safety. They emphasized that it’s never safe to stare directly at the sun without appropriate eye protection.
The special filtered glasses can only be safely removed when the moon entirely obscures the Sun’s visible surface.
The occurrence might impact animal behavior as it will simulate dusk conditions; it could also cause a brief drop in temperature. These phenomena provide scientists with unique opportunities to investigate the sun and its interaction with Earth.
Nasa to send rockets during Ring of Fire eclipse?
A total solar eclipse will pass through the United States on April 8 of next year, giving Americans a second opportunity to view an eclipse. After that, according to NASA, the US will not witness another total solar eclipse until August 23, 2044.
During the "Ring of Fire" solar eclipse, NASA intends to dispatch three rockets to investigate the impact of the abrupt decrease in sunlight on Earth’s upper atmosphere. Each rocket will carry four compact scientific instruments designed to record alterations in electric and magnetic fields, density, and temperature.
The rockets will be launched from the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, situated just outside the “Ring of Fire” path. Their primary target is the ionosphere, a section of Earth’s atmosphere where air becomes electrically charged.
It is anticipated that during an eclipse, when sunlight disappears rapidly, waves will propagate through the ionosphere. These waves can potentially disrupt satellite communications, including GPS.
This event presents a unique opportunity as it occurs approximately once every 400 years. The data collected from this mission could enhance our comprehension of Earth’s atmosphere and its interaction with solar radiation, per Forbes.