October 13, 2023 |
PHOTO – Annular Eclipse – Bigfoot99 file photo
On Saturday morning, an annular solar eclipse will cross the skies of the Southwestern United States, allowing viewers to see a “ring of fire” surround the shadowy new moon.
During the partial eclipse tomorrow, the apparent size of the Moon’s disk is slightly smaller than the apparent size of the Sun’s disk, so that only the outer edge of the Sun remains visible. For those who are inside the path of the eclipse, this will give the appearance of a bright ring of light, hence the name, ring of fire.
People at all locations in the continental U.S. will have a chance see at least a partial eclipse, but from Oregon to the American Southwest spectators will be able to view the spectacular “ring of fire.”
The path of annularity, in which 91% of the sun will be covered by the moon, will start in Oregon and move through Utah, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas.
Wyoming residents can expect to see about 70% of the sun covered, so while they won’t see a ring of fire, they should be able to see a crescent shape at points during the eclipse.
The eclipse will start at 9:05 a.m., Mountain Standard Time, and it will end at 12:38 p.m.
It is never safe to look straight at the sun without protection, and solar filters, such as eclipse glasses or welding glasses, are required to view the eclipse safely.
Saturday’s sky show over the American West won’t occur again until 2046, so it may be worthwhile to pull out your eclipse glasses for a glimpse! The last annular solar eclipse to go over the Western U.S. was on May 20, 2012.
Saturday’s eclipse is six months before the total solar eclipse that will hit the U.S. on April 8, 2024. Unlike the last total solar eclipse in 2017, the path of totality will not go over Wyoming this time.
The eclipse will start at 9:05 a.m., Mountain Standard Time, and it will end at 12:38 p.m.
