Annular solar eclipse 2023: North America's 'ring of fire' eclipse.

[LazyHippo]

On Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, an annular solar eclipse will come to North America.
 

You can watch the annular solar eclipse 2023 online and NASA has also released an interactive map where you can track the Oct. 14 annular solar eclipse down to the last second.
 

Roughly 11 years after the same type of solar eclipse crossed the U.S. Southwest on May 20, 2012, this one will be visible from a similar region, crossing eight U.S. states from Oregon to Texas, according to NASA.
 

During an annular solar eclipse, the moon appears slightly smaller than the sun, so it can't block the entire disk. The result is a beautiful "ring of fire."
 

This eclipse won't darken skies the way the total solar eclipse of Aug. 21, 2017, did. A solar eclipse occurs when a new moon is positioned precisely between Earth and the sun and casts its shadow on Earth. 
 

An annular solar eclipse happens when the moon appears relatively small in the sky so does not fully cover the disk of the sun, leaving a thin outer ring often called a "ring of fire."
 

Whether the moon can completely cover the sun's disk depends on the moon's distance from Earth. The moon has a slightly elliptical orbit around Earth, so at two points each month, it is farthest (apogee) and closest (perigee) to Earth, making the moon appear slightly smaller and slightly larger than average in our sky.

 

On Oct. 14, 2023, the new moon will look relatively small and, therefore, cover only 91% of the sun's disk as viewed from the narrow path of annularity that stretches from Oregon through Texas and beyond.
 

A map of the path of annularity for the annular solar eclipse on October 14, 2023. (Image credit: GreatAmericanEclipse.com/MichaelZeiler)
 

On Oct. 14, 2023, all of North America and Central America, and most of South America will experience a solar eclipse. For all of that region, the spectacle will be a partial solar eclipse of varying obscuration. Only within the path of annularity, which is 118 to 137 miles (190 to 220 kilometers) wide, will the ring of fire be visible. That path will stretch from Oregon through northern California, northeast Nevada, central Utah, northeast Arizona, southwest Colorado, central New Mexico and southern Texas. It will then move across the Gulf of Mexico and over Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Brazil.
 

 

 

The point of greatest eclipse — where viewers could see a ring of fire lasting 5 minutes, 17 seconds — will occur off the coast of Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

 

In Sept. 2023, it was announced that all Navajo Tribal Parks will be closed from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. MDT on October 14, 2023, due to Navajo cultural beliefs surrounding the event. This includes Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Four Corners Monument Navajo Tribal Park and parts of the Tséyi’ Diné Heritage Area in Canyon de Chelly National Monument. Local businesses may also be closed. Please plan your eclipse viewing trip accordingly.

 

The most scenic places to see the ring of fire are in the U.S. Southwest and at the Mayan temple at Edzná on Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. Here are some notable locations and cities that will see a ring of fire, together with the local time and duration of that event, according to Jubier. Note that all of these places will also see a long partial solar eclipse before and after the brief 'ring of fire; their closeness to the centerline of the path of annularity determines the duration of the ring of fire:

Oregon Dunes, Oregon: 9:15 a.m. PDT; 4 minutes, 29 seconds 
Crater Lake National Park, Oregon: 9:17 a.m. PDT; 4 minutes, 19 seconds 
Lava Beds National Monument, California: 9:19 a.m. PDT; 54 seconds 
Great Basin National Park, Nevada: 9:24 a.m. PDT; 3 minutes, 46 seconds 
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah: 10:27 a.m. MDT; 2 minutes, 31 seconds 
Capitol Reef National Park, Utah: 10:27 a.m. MDT; 4 minutes, 37 seconds 
Canyonlands National Park, Utah: 10:29 a.m. MDT; 2 minutes, 24 seconds
Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah: 10:29 a.m. MDT; 4 minutes, 29 seconds  
Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado: 10:31 a.m. MDT; 2 minutes, 57 seconds 
Chaco Culture National Park, New Mexico: 10:32 a.m. MDT; 4 minutes, 42 seconds 
Albuquerque, New Mexico: 10:34 a.m. MDT; 4 minutes, 42 seconds  
San Antonio: 11:52 a.m. CDT; 4 minutes, 5 seconds
Corpus Christi, Texas: 11:55 a.m. CDT; 4 minutes, 52 seconds
Padre Island National Seashore, Texas: 11:56 a.m. CDT; 4 minutes, 52 seconds
Edzná Maya archaeological site, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico: 11:23 a.m. CST; 4 minutes, 32 seconds

 

Although it's a great excuse to visit new places, the most important factor for eclipse viewing is clear weather. Check the climate and weather before you make a plan, and be prepared to change your location when the local short-term weather forecasts arrive.

 

As with all eclipses, it's important to be in the center of the path of the moon's shadow if you want to experience as long a spectacle as possible. That means putting yourself on or near to the centerline. However, experienced eclipse chasers will head to the northern edge of the path — at locations such as Dolores, Colorado, and Santa Fe, New Mexico — to experience a much shorter, but arguably more dramatic, spectacle.

 

Although the ring of fire will get a lot of attention, few people make much effort to travel to see an annular solar eclipse. After all, these events don't quite compare to total solar eclipses. On Oct. 14, 2023, most of the Americas will experience a big partial solar eclipse. Here is what the 10 biggest cities in the U.S. will experience that day; only one will see the ring of fire:

 

New York: 23% at 1:22 p.m. EDT 
Los Angeles: 71% at 9:24 a.m. PDT 
Chicago: 43% at 11:58 a.m. CDT 
Houston: 85% at 11:58 a.m. CDT
Phoenix: 79% at 9:31 a.m. MST
Philadelphia: 25% at 1:21 p.m. EDT
San Antonio: "Ring of fire" at 11:52 a.m. CDT 
San Diego: 68% a.m. at 9:26 PDT 
Dallas: 80% at 11:52 a.m. CDT    
San Jose, California: 75% at 9:20 a.m. PDT 

 

To safely view this event, you must use solar filters at all times. Whether your location will experience a partial solar eclipse or an annular solar eclipse, the dangers are the same. In fact, a "ring of fire" is technically nothing more than a particularly pretty partial solar eclipse, because at no point will more than 91% of the sun's disk be covered by the new moon. Observers will need to wear solar eclipse glasses, and cameras, telescopes and binoculars must have solar filters placed in front of their lenses at all times.

 

After the annular solar eclipse on Oct. 14, 2023, the next annular solar eclipse will occur on Oct. 2, 2024, when a ring of fire will be visible from the Pacific Ocean, southern Chile and southern Argentina. At the point of greatest eclipse in the ocean, the ring of fire will last 7 minutes, 25 seconds, but the best spot will be Easter Island (Rapa Nui), located about 2,000 miles (3,200 km) off the western coast of Chile. There, it will be possible to stand among the remote volcanic island's many carved moai statues and see a ring of fire for up to 6 minutes, 9 seconds.

[RedBaird]

Thank you, Kind Sir.

 

That GIF image shows that YOU might have a good chance to see the best part of the show! 😄 

[nAbish]

Thank you! Me and the wife are going to check it out! 

[RedBaird]

 

This webpage has a chart titled "Countries Where the Eclipse Is Visible".  You can scroll down to your country and click on it and a new page will open with the eclipse times for cities and regions in your country.

 

Solar Eclipse 2023 — Annular Eclipse, October 14 (timeanddate.com)

 

You can also Google search for "solar eclipse 2023 in Your Country".  This is the result for Belize : 

 

https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/belize/belize-city?iso=20231014#:~:text=October 14%2C 2023 — Annular Solar Eclipse — Belize City%2C Belize

 

 

 

 

Edited October 14, 2023 by RedBaird
ADDED 'stuff'

[RedBaird]

Here is a site that has information for many countries : https://eclipse2024.org/2023eclipse/eclipse_cities/index.php 

 

"We've broken the list up into two sections; first, we show you all the states and provinces lying within the path for the 2023 annular eclipse, and then we list all the other states, provinces and countries." 

 

The first "group" is for "...the states and countries that have cities in the path."

     Which lists cities in the USA, Mexico, Brazil and "all other countries".

 

The second search group is for "...cities and towns not in the path"

    Which lists cities in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and "all other countries."   Those include all of Central and South America.

 

Okay, I get it now.  "In the path" means for the Annular Eclipse, meaning total eclipse

 

AND ...

 

"What is the annular eclipse?
noun. an eclipse of the sun in which the moon does not cover the entire disc of the sun, so that a ring of sunlight surrounds the shadow of the moon."

 

That is where the "Ring of Fire" phrase comes from.  @LazyHippo  Protect your eyes and I will be jealous of you tomorrow!

[LazyHippo]

Very close indeed @RedBaird and I was at work but prepared and with high command permission to see the eclipse.

 

Didnt had the 'ring of fire' like some of the US states with Central America had but was glad to had a very decent view.

 

Im reflected at the filter 😄

 

 

 

 

On the first image I used a Samsung Galaxy 50MP front camera with Universal solar lense.

 

Video taken from coworker's Iphone 10 video camera with same filter.

[RedBaird]

8 minutes ago, LazyHippo said:

Didnt had the 'ring of fire' like some of the US states with Central America had but was glad to had a very decent vie

 

Oh, No!  I had really hoped that you would get to enjoy the "ring of fire" experience! 

 

(So that I could be jealous of you? 😄 )

 

I was fascinated by that video I posted, which showed the 'fire point' swooping down through Brazil and then "flashing away" into the Atlantic!  😮 WOW! 

 

@Daddy Posted in that "news announcement" that his sky in Brazil was cloudy.   He would have at least gotten the 'strange dimness' that we did in California.   

 

I just added [DONE] to that news item that links to here.   I just hope that it attracted more attention to this "once in a Lifetime" topic.

 

Edited October 14, 2023 by RedBaird
[DONE]

[LazyHippo]

1 hour ago, RedBaird said:

 

Oh, No!  I had really hoped that you would get to enjoy the "ring of fire" experience! 

 

(So that I could be jealous of you? 😄 )

 

It was really close to the ring, the moon covered I say at least 70-80% of the Sun, it was a light feeling of 5-6pm when it was only 12:30pm local time.

 

Im curious of the almost 100% solar eclipse in the Mayan's Edzná Archeological site, as mayans were wise in astronomical facts.

 

 

 

1 hour ago, RedBaird said:

 

I was fascinated by that video I posted, which showed the 'fire point' swooping down through Brazil and then "flashing away" into the Atlantic!  😮 WOW! 

 

 

Nice video as well! indeed the Moon's shadow swallowed by the Earth's night and just after Friday 13th. 😈

 

 

 

Edited October 14, 2023 by LazyHippo
spelling :P

[LazyHippo]

Just wanted to share Space.com's "Astrophoto of the month", ofcourse the eclipse was involved and was published:

 

Our astrophoto of the month is this remarkable composite image of the annular solar eclipse on Oct. 14 as seen over Monument Valley, Utah, captured by Rajat Kumar Pal.

 

The foreground landscape photo was taken shortly after sunrise as the sun can be seen just to the left of Sentinel Mesa, a 6,417-foot (1,956-meter)  mountain rising out of the desert plateau.

 

"I kept this as a foreground image because it shows a beautiful diffraction of the sun rays at the mesa wall and also gives an idea where the sun has risen today," Pal told Space.com in an email.

 

The eclipse was captured separately and the two images combined to create a spectacular composite.

 

"It was a beautiful time enjoying the eclipse in the serene company of my wife and other eclipse enthusiasts," Pal continued.

 

Rajat Kumar Pal captured this composite annular solar eclipse image from Monument Valley, Utah. (Image credit: Rajat Kumar Pal)