Annular solar eclipse on October 2: Why it's called 'Ring of Fire' eclipse

Unlike a total solar eclipse where the Moon completely obscures the Sun, an annular eclipse leaves a bright ring of sunlight visible around the Moon's silhouette.

In Short

• It occurs because the Moon is near its apogee - the farthest point from Earth
• The Moon appears smaller than the Sun and leaves a bright ring
• This creates the appearance of a "ring of fire" in the sky

Days after the partial lunar eclipse amazed astronomy enthusiasts, skywatchers will be treated to a rare celestial event - an annular solar eclipse, often referred to as a "ring of fire" eclipse.

This astronomical phenomenon will occur on October 2 as India marks the birth anniversary of the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi.

ANNULAR SOLAR ECLIPSE 2024

The annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun but is too far from Earth to completely cover the Sun's disk.

The eclipse will begin in the southern Pacific Ocean at 15:42 UTC, with the path of annularity first making landfall in southern Chile around 16:50 UTC5.

The maximum eclipse will occur at 18:45 UTC over Argentina, where lucky observers will witness the Moon centered perfectly within the Sun's disk, creating the distinctive ring of fire effect5.

RING OF FIRE ECLIPSE

Unlike a total solar eclipse where the Moon completely obscures the Sun, an annular eclipse leaves a bright ring of sunlight visible around the Moon's silhouette.

This occurs because the Moon is near its apogee - the farthest point from Earth in its elliptical orbit - making it appear slightly smaller than the Sun from our perspective.

The Moon appears smaller than the Sun and leaves a bright ring, or "annulus," of the Sun's outer edges visible around it. This creates the appearance of a "ring of fire" in the sky.

During this event, the central part of the Sun is blocked, but the outer rim remains visible. Unlike a total solar eclipse, where the Sun is completely obscured, the ring of fire allows sunlight to be seen throughout the eclipse, though it’s still important to use proper eye protection to safely view it.

WHERE WILL IT BE SEEN?

The path of annularity, where the ring of fire will be visible, is relatively narrow - about 265 km wide at its maximum. It will cross parts of southern Chile and Argentina before ending in the southern Atlantic Ocean around 20:39 UTC5. The entire event, from the first location seeing a partial eclipse to the last, will last approximately 6 hours.

While only about 1,75,000 people live within the path of annularity, millions more in South America will be able to witness a partial solar eclipse. Observers in parts of Antarctica, the Pacific Ocean, and even Hawaii will also have the opportunity to see a partial eclipse.

One of the most intriguing viewing locations for this eclipse is Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui. This remote Chilean territory in the Pacific Ocean will experience an impressive 87% coverage of the Sun's disk.

It's crucial to note that proper eye protection is essential for safely viewing any type of solar eclipse. Even during an annular eclipse, when a portion of the Sun remains visible, it is never safe to look directly at the Sun without specialised solar filters.

This annular solar eclipse is part of Saros cycle 144, which began in 1736 and will end in 29802. The next total solar eclipse visible from Earth will occur on August 12, 2026, passing over Greenland, Iceland, and parts of northern Europe.