The annular solar eclipse, commonly referred to as the ‘ring of fire,’ will only be observable in certain regions globally. On October 2, an annular lunar eclipse will occur, but it will be visible primarily from specific locations, especially in its annular form, when the moon positions itself between the Earth and the sun, creating a fiery ring effect.
Sadly, the peak of the 2024 annular solar eclipse, occurring on October 3 at 12:15 AM IST, will not be viewable from anywhere in India since the event takes place at night. the eclipse will start on October 2 at 7:12 PM IST and end on October 3 at 3:17 AM IST, lasting just over six hours in total.
Countries like Argentina and Chile will experience the full annular eclipse, while partial views will be possible from the United States, Mexico, New Zealand, Brazil, the Falkland Islands, Uruguay, and more.
Additionally, there is an intriguing connection between lunar and solar eclipses; a solar eclipse typically occurs either right before or within two weeks after a lunar eclipse.
So, what exactly is an annular eclipse, and why is it called a ‘ring of fire’? This phenomenon happens when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth. Since the moon is significantly smaller than the sun, even when it completely obscures the sun, the outer edges may still be visible, creating a ‘ring of fire’ appearance around the moon. A total solar eclipse happens when the moon entirely covers the sun. The next solar eclipse will not occur until 2026.
