A Rare "Ring of Fire" Solar Eclipse Will Be Visible This Weekend
Since movie theaters and Broadway have been closed for some time, you can catch the best shows this year simply by looking up at the sky. From supermoons to meteor showers, the night sky has been, well, stellar entertainment. This weekend, another incredible celestial event will hit: an annual "ring of fire" solar eclipse.
So what exactly is that? This type of solar eclipse occurs when a new moon is near its farthest point from Earth (called its apogee), forming a straight line with the Earth and the sun—an event that occurs once a year. When the moon is at its apogee, it partially covers the sun. Since the sun's outer rim remains visible, though, the sunshine appearing around the moon creates a stunning ring of fire effect. According to Forbes, this weekend's new moon will block 99.4% of the sun at maximum, almost forming a total solar eclipse.
On Sunday, June 21, the annular solar eclipse will be visible in parts of Africa, Pakistan, India, and China, according to timeandate.com. Skywatchers in this area will be able to see the ring of fire. In south and east Europe and north Australia, a partial eclipse will be visible. Keep in mind that the sun can burn your retinas, so if you watch the solar eclipse in person, make sure to wear proper eye protection.
Want to watch the ring of fire solar eclipse from home? Tune in to this live stream this weekend. You won't want to miss it because the next annular solar eclipse is happening June 2021.
You Might Also Like
