This week, enthusiasts of celestial events are gearing up for an annular solar eclipse, often referred to as the “ring of fire,” which will grace parts of the globe. Scheduled for Tuesday, February 17, this phenomenon occurs when the Moon is positioned further away from Earth and appears smaller than the Sun, leading to a scenario where it does not completely cover the Sun’s face. As explained by Michael Kirk, a heliophysicist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, this creates a stunning visual effect where a dark disk, representing the Moon, sits atop a larger, bright disk, forming a brilliant ring around it.
Unlike a total solar eclipse where the Moon completely obscures the Sun, an annular eclipse does not allow viewers to see the Sun’s corona, which is the outer atmosphere typically visible during a total eclipse. Viewers in the path of a total solar eclipse experience a dramatic shift in light, akin to dawn or dusk, while those witnessing an annular eclipse will see the distinct ‘ring’ effect.
The annular solar eclipse will primarily be visible in a remote area of Antarctica, specifically from the coast facing Australia in Western Antarctica. According to Dimitrios Vassiliada from NOAA’s Space Weather Program, the duration of this event will last approximately two minutes, with maximum visibility reaching up to two minutes and twenty seconds at optimal locations. However, some stations may only experience around one minute and forty seconds of the eclipse.
Due to the isolated location, NOAA will not be providing a live stream of the event. For those eager to watch from afar, some coverage will be available through EarthSky’s YouTube channel, along with live updates on Space.com. NOAA also notes that they produce continuous imagery of the Sun using a special telescope known as a coronagraph, with live visuals accessible online.
While this week’s eclipse may be a challenge to view in person, avid sky watchers can look forward to a more accessible total solar eclipse planned for the near future, promising another opportunity to witness the beauty of such astronomical events.