Annular Solar Eclipse to Grace the Southern Hemisphere on October 2

On October 2, 2024, the Southern Hemisphere will witness a rare astronomical event – an annular solar eclipse. During this event, the moon will pass in front of the sun, creating the remarkable “ring of fire” effect. Space.com reports that this year’s eclipse will obscure 93% of the sun and will last for an impressive duration of 7 minutes and 25 seconds.

The “ring of fire” occurs when the sun, moon, and Earth align in a straight line during a new moon. NASA explains that an annular eclipse takes place when the moon is at its apogee, or farthest point from Earth. As a result, the moon appears smaller and only partially covers the sun, leaving the sun’s outer edges visible.

The phenomenon will kick off in the southern Pacific Ocean at 3:42 pm UTC and reach its peak over Argentina by 6:45 pm UTC, eventually concluding around 8:39 pm UTC in the southern Atlantic Ocean. This entire solar show will take approximately 6 hours from its start to finish, with the longest visible duration occurring in a remote area northwest of Easter Island in the Pacific Ocean. Observers there will be treated to the spectacular view for seven minutes and twenty-five seconds.

While the eclipse will not be observable from India, given the time difference and geographic positioning, it can be viewed from parts of the Pacific Ocean, near Easter Island, Chile, as well as several South American countries, including Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Hawaii.

According to NASA’s advisory, it is crucial to wear “eclipse glasses” or use a safe handheld solar viewer to view the eclipse safely. They warn against looking at the sun through a camera lens, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while using eclipse glasses, as concentrated solar rays can burn through the filter and cause serious eye damage.