For the first time since April’s solar eclipse—during which eleven contiguous states in the U.S. were in the path of totality—some will be able to see another eclipse this coming week.
What is an annular “ring of fire” solar eclipse?
An annular solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly over the sun’s disk, but the angle makes it so it only obscures most of the sun, instead of the entire sun like during a total eclipse, according to NASA. This is because the eclipse is occurring when the moon is at a point in its orbit that’s farther from Earth than in a total eclipse. Thus, it leaves a bright ring around the eclipsed sun, which appears like a “ring of fire.”
Solar eclipses usually occur about two to five times a year, somewhere on Earth, while total solar eclipses typically occur every year or two. The next total solar eclipse won’t arrive until 2026 and will pass over northern segments of Greenland, Iceland, and Spain.
time.com/7026352/ring-of-fire-annular-solar-eclipse-october-2024-when-to-see-it/