A rare 'ring of fire' eclipse will be visible in some part of the U.S. on Oct. 14. National Geographic editor Allie Yang explained what makes it so special — and what people can expect.
Americans may be able to catch a rare solar sighting this weekend. A 'ring of fire' eclipse is expected to occur on Oct. 14 in the U.S. as well as in Central and South America, as National Geographic editor and space expert Allie Yang told Fox News Digital in an email. The annular solar eclipse — a ring of fire — will go through western states including Oregon, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Texas and some parts of California, Idaho, Colorado and Arizona.
Everyone in the contiguous United States will get a partial eclipse without the full 'ring of fire' effect, according to Yang. This eclipse occurs when the moon passes in front of the sun and appears slightly smaller, creating a 'sliver of sun in the shape of a ring' for those who are in the right place at the right time, the expert said. Although annular eclipses like this one aren’t actually that rare, Yang said it is uncommon for the eclipse path to cross the U.S.
Eye protection is critical for viewing eclipses, even though it may seem counterintuitive, Yang said. 'You’d think that with some of the sun blocked by the moon, it might be safer to look at — but the opposite is true,' she warned. 'Even a sliver of sun, as we’ll see in this year’s eclipse, will scorch your eyes, especially because your pupils are dilated in the relative darkness,' she said. 'Irreversible damage can happen in seconds.
They present the opportunity for a 'totally multisensory experience.' She said, 'If you’re outside, you might hear nighttime animals come out. You may feel the coolness of the sun being blocked, and its warmth returning as the moon passes the sun.' Radio hobbyists also listen to changes in radio frequencies due to the eclipse's impact on our upper atmosphere, the ionosphere, Yang noted. 'This is where radio and GPS signals travel, so both can be affected in an eclipse.
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Where to buy solar eclipse glasses before the Oct. 14 'ring of fire' eclipseBrandon is the space/physics editor at Live Science. His writing has appeared in The Washington Post, Reader's Digest, CBS.com, the Richard Dawkins Foundation website and other outlets. He holds a bachelor's degree in creative writing from the University of Arizona, with minors in journalism and media arts. He enjoys writing most about space, geoscience and the mysteries of the universe.
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