Certainly, astronomy enthusiasts have plenty to rejoice about this year. Between meteor showers, supermoons (with two of them in the same month), and solar and lunar eclipses, 2023 is a truly remarkable year for those who take pleasure in observing the wonders that the universe presents to us.
But the “stellar party” is far from over, and we still have some major astronomical events to look forward to, including a spectacular annular solar eclipse. However, not everyone will be able to enjoy it; the lucky ones this time are the Americans, who will have the opportunity to witness this rare eclipse on October 14th.
Also known as the “ring of fire,” an annular solar eclipse is a unique phenomenon that occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth at its farthest point from the planet, creating a darkened circle with a fiery edge. Unlike a total solar eclipse, the Sun is not completely covered in this case.
The annular solar eclipse on October 14th will be visible for the first time in 11 years in North America and will cross through the state of Oregon, northern California, Nevada, Utah, northeastern Arizona, southwestern Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas before traveling to Central and South America.
Those who wish to witness the annular solar eclipse must be within the path of annularity, which extends for nearly 200 kilometers (people outside this path will see a partial eclipse).
Furthermore, observers must always wear special eclipse glasses or use properly certified similar instruments to prevent eye damage.
Spaniards will not have the luck to see this eclipse in our lands, and we will have to wait until 2026 to witness a solar eclipse in the peninsula. Let’s be patient, sky observers.
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