Amidst several lunar eclipses, an annular solar eclipse is set to occur on October 2. This type of eclipse, where the moon comes between the earth and the sun, creating a “ring of fire,” will only be visible in certain parts of the world.
Unfortunately, the peak of the 2024 annular solar eclipse, which happens on October 3 at 12:15 AM IST, won’t be visible from India in any form, as it occurs during nighttime.
As per timeanddate.com, the annular solar eclipse will commence on October 2 at 7:12 PM IST and conclude on October 3 at 3:17 AM IST, lasting a little over six hours in total.
The full annular solar eclipse will be visible in countries such as Argentina and Chile, while a partial solar eclipse can be observed in the United States, Mexico, New Zealand, Brazil, the Falkland Islands, Uruguay, and several others.
Additionally, there’s an intriguing connection between lunar and solar eclipses: a solar eclipse takes place either shortly before or two weeks after a lunar eclipse.
What is an annular eclipse, and why is it known as a ‘ring of fire’?
An annular eclipse occurs when the moon positions itself between the sun and the earth. Since the moon is significantly smaller than the sun, even when it partially covers the sun—particularly when it is farther away from the Earth—the outer edge of the sun remains visible, creating the appearance of a ‘ring of fire’ around the moon. In contrast, a total solar eclipse happens when the moon completely covers the sun. The next solar eclipse will not take place until 2026.
