Annular Solar Eclipse 2024: Where Will the “Ring of Fire” Eclipse Be Visible?
On October 2, 2024, an annular solar eclipse will be visible over southern South America and the Pacific Ocean. This article will help you choose the best locations to witness this event and understand what makes it special. You can find the eclipse maps and timings for your exact location in the Eclipse Guide and Sky Tonight apps.
Contents
- What time is the annular solar eclipse 2024?
- Where can I see the annular solar eclipse in October 2024?
- Why is the October 2024 eclipse special?
- Will I see the solar eclipse in October 2024?
- What is an annular solar eclipse?
- When is the next solar eclipse?
- “Ring of fire” solar eclipse 2024: Bottom line
What time is the annular solar eclipse 2024?
The solar eclipse will begin on October 2 at 15:42 GMT (11:42 a.m. EDT). The annularity phase will begin at 16:50 GMT (12:50 p.m. EDT) and reach its maximum at 18:45 GMT (2:45 p.m. EDT). The “ring of fire” will last for up to 7.5 minutes, depending on the observer’s location. To find out when the eclipse will be visible from your area, use the Eclipse Guide or Sky Tonight app.
Where can I see the annular solar eclipse in October 2024?
The spectacular “ring of fire” will be observable only within the path of annularity, which passes across southern Chile, southern Argentina, and parts of the Pacific Ocean. Viewers outside the annularity path will be able to see a partial solar eclipse. Read on to learn more details.
Best locations (with viewing times) for the “ring of fire” eclipse 2024
Probably the most amazing location to witness the annular solar eclipse of 2024 is Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island. It’s a volcanic island in the territory of Chile, famous for its numerous monumental statues called moai. It is also one of the world's remotest inhabited islands — what a place to go eclipse chasing! But, besides Rapa Nui, there are other spectacular destinations, too. Here is a list of the best places to see the “ring of fire” eclipse of 2024; we also included the annularity phase start time (local time), its duration, eclipse magnitude*, and percentage of the Sun’s disk covered:
- Perito Moreno National Park, Argentina: 17:21, 6 min, 17 sec, mag 0.960, 85.71%;
- Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chile: 14:04, 5 min, 48 sec, mag 0.945, 87.07%;
- Cochrane, Chile: 17:21, 5 min, 40 sec, mag 0.948, 85.74%;
- Puerto San Julian, Argentina: 17:24, 5 min, 12 sec, mag 0.943, 85.55%;
- Puerto Deseado, Argentina: 17:27, 3 min, 22 sec, mag 0.931, 85.51%.
(*The magnitude of a solar eclipse is the fraction of the Sun’s disk diameter covered by the Moon.)
Experienced eclipse chasers also observe “ring of fire” eclipses from the annularity path’s edge to see Bailey’s beads — brilliant points of light around the lunar silhouette. Here are a couple of locations where you can witness this phenomenon for an extended period of time:
- Santa Julia, Chile: 17:24;
- Chile Chico, Chile: 17:24.
Note: the closer you are to the edge of the annularity path, the longer you’ll witness Bailey’s beads; however, the “ring of fire” phase will have a shorter duration or won’t be visible at all.
Locations to see a partial solar eclipse in October 2024
While the “ring of fire” will be visible only from select regions in Chile and Argentina, many other areas will witness a partial solar eclipse on October 2. Here's a list of major locations with eclipse magnitude and percentage of the Sun’s disk covered in each of them:
- Falkland Islands, UK (mag 0.904, 83.97%)
- El Calafate, Argentina (mag 0.895, 83.27%)
- South Georgia Island (mag 0.832, 75.92%)
- Punta Arenas, Chile (mag 0.826, 75.49%)
- Ushuaia, Argentina (mag 0.793, 71.57%)
- Villarrica, Chile (mag 0.724, 63.60%)
- Elephant Island, Antarctica (mag 0.661, 56.09%)
- Santiago, Chile (mag 0.549, 43.49%)
- Montevideo, Uruguay (mag 0.538, 42.20%)
- Buenos Aires, Argentina (mag 0.533, 41.69%)
Weather during the annular eclipse on October 2, 2024
Unfortunately, the chances that you’ll get a completely clear sky on the day of the eclipse are quite low. According to the Time and Date website, there’s a 75% chance of clouds over Easter Island, 90% over Perito Moreno National Park, and 65% to 70% for areas along Argentina’s Atlantic coast. According to climatologist Jay Anderson, the Argentinian side of the Andes will provide the best weather conditions for viewing the eclipse.
Why is the October 2024 eclipse special?
The first thing that makes this annular solar eclipse special is its duration. The “ring of fire” phase will last for a maximum time of 7 minutes and 25 seconds (in the Pacific). This is two minutes longer than the last annular solar eclipse that occurred on October 14, 2023.
Secondly, the prime viewing spot for this eclipse is the iconic Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, offering a truly unique stage for this celestial spectacle.
Finally, the next annular eclipse will occur only in 2026 and will be visible only from Antarctica. So don’t miss your chance this year!
Will I see the solar eclipse in October 2024?
Use the Eclipse Guide app to find out if the October 2024 solar eclipse will be visible from your location. Tap the Sky button in the bottom left corner, then navigate to the “Custom” tab. Enter your city’s name and select it from the list. If the eclipse is visible, the app will show its timeline for that location, along with a video demonstrating what the eclipse will look like in your sky. You can also tap the Path and Map buttons to explore interactive eclipse maps.
An eclipse map and other useful info can also be found in the Sky Tonight app. Tap the Calendar icon at the bottom of the main screen, find October 2, and tap the “Annular Solar Eclipse” event. Then, simply swipe the eclipse image to the left to view the map. Tap the blue button in the map’s upper-right corner to expand the map to full screen. Now, you can drag the map left and right to move around it. Tap the “i” icon at the upper-right corner to see the map’s legend.
What is an annular solar eclipse?
An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between Earth and the Sun but is too far from Earth to cover the Sun’s disk completely. As a result, a thin ring of the Sun’s surface (the “ring of fire”) remains visible around the edges of the Moon. This type of eclipse differs from a total solar eclipse, where the Moon fully obscures the Sun. If you want to learn more about the different types of solar eclipses, read our dedicated article.
Solar eclipses are mesmerizing events, but you should never forget about safety precautions. Always use proper eye protection, such as eclipse glasses, to watch the eclipse safely.
When is the next solar eclipse?
The next solar eclipse will occur on March 29, 2025. It will be a partial eclipse, visible in the US, Eastern Canada, Greenland, Europe, Northwest Africa, and Northern Russia. Check our infographic to learn about the five upcoming solar and lunar eclipses.
When is the next annular solar eclipse?
The next annular solar eclipse after 2024 will occur on February 17, 2026. The “ring of fire” will be visible only from Antarctica. The partial eclipse phase will be visible from parts of Argentina and Chile, as well as in much of Southern Africa.
“Ring of fire” solar eclipse 2024: Bottom line
The annular solar eclipse on October 2, 2024, will be visible in some parts of southern Chile and Argentina — including the iconic Easter Island! For those outside the path of annularity, a partial solar eclipse will be visible across much of the southern half of South America. Note that viewing conditions can vary greatly depending on the weather in a specific area, so plan your eclipse adventure carefully. To find out the eclipse visibility from a particular location, use the Eclipse Guide or Sky Tonight app.
