A solar eclipse is expected to sweep across parts of the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Antarctica on October 2, 2024. During this event, the moon will align itself perfectly between the Earth and the Sun. However, since the moon will be slightly farther from the Earth than it is during a total solar eclipse, it will not completely obscure the giant star.
Instead, the sun's light will circle the moon's shadow, leaving behind a "ring of fire." At its strongest while over the Pacific, the "ring of fire" will be visible for 7 minutes and 25 seconds, obscuring about 93% of the sun. Those in parts of southern Chile, southern Argentina, and Rapa Nui can also expect to see the ring of fire if the conditions permit it.
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Start and end time of this year's solar eclipse
Tabulated below is a timetable that outlines all the stages of the cclipse, according to timeanddate.com.
The annual solar eclipse will commence by 12:50 p.m. ET, and will go on till 4:39 p.m. ET. Its path starts 1,056 miles southwest of Hawaii, and it will move towards the southwest, EarthSky reported. At its greatest, the eclipse will peak at 2:45 p.m. ET over the ocean, and will span a total of 7 minutes.
Elsewhere in Rapa Nui, stargazers will become privy to the ring of fire for a total of 6 minutes and 23 seconds, according to EarthSky, beginning by 3:07 p.m. ET. Here, 87% of the sun will be obscured. When it reaches Chile, it will be visible for a total of 6 minutes and 11 seconds, with about 85.6% of the sun covered, beginning at 4:22 p.m. ET.
It will then make its way to the Andes, and then Argentina, where it will be visible for a total of 6 minutes and 18 seconds, with about 85.6% of the sun covered, beginning at about 4:27 p.m. ET. Residents of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia will get to witness a partial eclipse at 4:36 p.m. ET.
Where can a partial solar eclipse be seen?
A partial eclipse takes place just before, and right after the moon is perfectly aligned between the Sun and the Earth, giving the moon a crescent shape. As reported by NASA, the partial solar eclipse, or crescent-shaped moon, will also be seen in all or parts of:
- American Samoa
- Antarctica
- Argentina
- Baker Island, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands
- Brazil
- Chile
- Christmas Island
- Clipperton Island
- Cook Islands
- Falkland Islands
- Fiji
- French Polynesia
- Hawaii, USA
- Mexico
- New Zealand
- Niue
- Palmyra Atoll, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands
- Paraguay
- Pitcairn Islands
- Samoa
- South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
- Tokelau
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Uruguay
- Wallis and Futuna
What to keep in mind while viewing the solar eclipse this October 2
Viewing partial or annular solar eclipses with the naked eye is heavily warned against by NASA and other scientific authorities, as it can result in major damage to the eyes. it is essential to equip safe solar viewing glasses, aka eclipse glasses, or a safe handheld solar viewer. It is also important to note that regular sunglasses are not safe enough for such an event.
Furthermore, viewing the eclipse from behind a lens, such as a camera, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device, despite wearing eclipse glasses or using a handheld solar viewer, is just as perilous. This is because the concentrated solar rays can burn through the filters, culminating in injury to the organ, NASA warns.
It is also essential to keep in mind that using torn, scratched, or damaged eclipse glasses or solar viewers may also lead to eye damage. However, there are indirect viewing methods available for those who do not wish to purchase such glasses. This can be done via a pinhole projector, such as a hole punched in an index card, which projects the image of the Sun onto any given surface.
Again - viewing the eclipse through the pinhole is just as perilous. The Sun must be against the back while viewing the image projected on the surface. Other objects that can be used in such a way include colanders, or anything similar.
This year has been riddled with lunar and solar events, as the next one, the Hunter’s moon, takes place just a few short days later on October 17. It's expected to be a supermoon, and will be the closest one all year, nearing the Earth at about 222,095 miles (357,428 kilometers) in distance.
Following suit is the beaver moon, slated for November 15. The full and final moon of the year is going to be the cold moon on December 15. The next annular solar eclipses are slated for February 17, 2026, in Antarctica, and February 6, 2027, to be seen in Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria. In 2028, it will be seen on January 26, and in 2030, it will be seen on June 1, as per space.com.
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