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Tomorrow, we will behold a little astronomical excitement as a 'ring of fire' traverses the skies of North, Central, and South America. This stunning celestial event, known as an annular solar eclipse, will be visible in parts of the United States, Mexico, and many countries in Central and South America. In the U.S., the eclipse begins in Oregon at 9:13 a.m. PDT and ends in Texas at 12:03 p.m. CDT. An annular eclipse won't be seen again in North America until 2039, when the path will cross Alaska.
I feel quite blessed here in the Texas Hill County, to live on a spot directly in the path of total annularity. However, folks living outside the path will still get to witness a partial eclipse of the Sun. (see the large map below) Incidentally, my location will also be on the centerline of the Moon's shadow during next year's total solar eclipse, April 8, 2024. 'X' marks the spot. Indeed, it feels a bit like being in the crosshairs of something cosmic. Mind boggling!
Here, total annularity will last about 4 minutes and 15 seconds, and I have my shade 14 welding lens at hand and a few celebratory ice cold beverages waiting, as I prepare to experience tomorrow's heavenly wonder. It will also be interesting to see how the cats react to the darkness in the middle of the day. My guess is they will sleep right on through without even noticing, and knowing them, if they do wake up, they will probably just give a yawn and think it's time to eat.... lol.
NASA will be broadcasting the eclipse live Saturday on YouTube for everyone to see, regardless of location. So, here's to cloudless skies and a clear view, as we watch the Sun and Moon dance together across the heavens. Learn and enjoy!
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Information below, full credit NASA Science website:
Annular Eclipse: What to Expect
The eclipse on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, will be an annular solar eclipse. An annular solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth while it is at its farthest point from Earth. Because the Moon is farther away from Earth, it appears smaller than the Sun and does not completely cover the star. Because the Sun is never completely covered, observers must wear proper eye protection at all times while watching an annular eclipse.
What you can see during an annular eclipse depends on the weather and the location from which you view it.
Weather. You need a clear view of the Sun and Moon to see the eclipse. However, even with cloud cover, the eerie daytime darkness associated with eclipses is still noticeable.
Location. To see all phases of an annular eclipse, you must view it from somewhere along the path of annularity: the locations on Earth from which the Moon will appear to pass across the center of the Sun. The path of annularity across North America for the Oct. 14, 2023, annular eclipse is shown below. More detailed map views, including the timetable of each phase of the eclipse at select locations, are available here.
Phases of an Annular Eclipse
Partial Eclipse
As the Moon begins to pass in front of the Sun, it will produce a partial eclipse. The Moon will slowly block more and more of the Sun’s light, making the Sun appear as a smaller and smaller crescent before it forms a “C” shape. This phase is also known as first contact.
Annularity
About an hour and 20 minutes after the partial eclipse phase begins, the Moon will pass completely in front of the Sun, leaving a “ring” of Sun visible from behind the Moon. This period is known as annularity, or second contact. It will last between 1 and 5 minutes for most places, depending on where you view it from. During the eclipse, the sky will grow dimmer, though not as dark as during a total solar eclipse. Some animals may begin to behave as if it is dusk and the air may feel cooler.
Return to Partial Eclipse
The Moon will then continue passing across the Sun’s face for about an hour and 20 minutes, producing another partial eclipse phase. This phase is also called third contact.
Partial Eclipse Ends
The Moon continues to move until it no longer overlaps the Sun's disk. The eclipse is over. This phase is also known as fourth contact.
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The Path of the Annular Solar Eclipse Over North America
Map and Image Credit: Great American Eclipse
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Official NASA Broadcast of the Annular Solar Eclipse
(Live Coverage Beginning at 11:30 A.M. EDT Saturday)
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M E O W !
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