2023 Annular Solar Eclipse: See the Ring of Fire in North America

 Eight states in the southwestern United States will see the second solar eclipse event of the year.

Eight U.S. states will be able to see an annular solar dimming, sometimes known as a "fire ring" eclipse on Oct. 14, 2023. (Image credit: EyeEm/ Chayanan Phomsukwisit via Getty Images)

On Saturday, October 14, 2023, a solar eclipse will take place across North America.

About 11 years later, the same type of solar eclipse event passed over the United States. It will be observed on that day, May 20, 2012, from a similar region in the southwest in eight US states from Oregon to Texas, according to NASA.

The moon can only partially obscure solar obscuration during an annular solar eclipse event because it looks somewhat smaller than the sun. The outcome is a beautiful "ring of fire". Here is all the information you want regarding this unusual occurrence.

What exactly is an Annual solar eclipse?

This obscuration will not be as dark as the total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017. A solar obscuration happens when a new moon exactly aligns with Earth and the sun to throw Earth's shadow.

Solar shadowing occurs when the moon appears small in the sky and therefore does not cover the solar disk and leaves the outer ring (often called "the ring of fire").

Whether the moon can completely cover the solar disk depends on the moon's distance from the Earth. The Moon's orbit around Earth is somewhat elliptical, so there are times when twice a month when it is farthest (apogee) and closest (perigee) to Earth, causing the Moon to appear smaller and larger than the average of our sky.

On October 14, 2023, the new moon appears small, so it only covers 91 percent of the sun's disk as seen from a narrow path stretching from Oregon to Texas and beyond.

Where is the "Ring of Fire" during the Annular Solar Eclipse?

An illustration of the annular solar eclipse's event path of annularity on October 14, 2023 (Image credit: MichaelZeiler/greatamericaneclipse.com)

A solar eclipse will cross much of South America, Central America, and much of North America on October 14, 2023. For all regions, the show will be a partial solar eclipse in different hues. The ring of fire will only be seen inside the 118 to 137-mile (190 to 220 km) broad path of annularity. This route will start in Oregon and travel via northern California, northeast Nevada, central Utah, northeast Arizona, southwest Colorado, central New Mexico, and southern Texas.

It will then cross the Gulf of Mexico, passing through Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Brazil.

The point of the greatest eclipse — where viewers could see a ring of fire lasting 5 minutes and 17 seconds — will occur off the coast of Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Check out this interactive map created by French eclipse expert Xavier Jubier to see the full path of the annularity.

Can I watch the "Ring of Fire" solar eclipse in North America?

The best places to see a Fire Ring are the Mayan temples in the western United States and Edezna, Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. According to Jubier, the following major locales and cities will see a ring of fire, along with the precise timing and length of the event. All of these locations will experience a protracted partial solar eclipse before and after the short 'ring of fire; their proximity to the path of annularity dictates the duration of the ring of fire:

• Oregon Dunes, Oregon: 9:15 a.m. PDT; 4 minutes, 29 seconds

• Crater Lake National Park, Oregon: 9:17 a.m. PDT; 4 minutes, 19 seconds

• Lava Beds National Monument, California: 9:19 a.m. PDT; 54 seconds

• Great Basin National Park, Nevada: 9:24 a.m. PDT; 3 minutes, 46 seconds

• Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah: 10:27 a.m. MDT; 2 minutes, 31 seconds

• Capitol Reef National Park, Utah: 10:27 a.m. MDT; 4 minutes, 37 seconds

• Canyonlands National Park, Utah: 10:29 a.m. MDT; 2 minutes, 24 seconds

• Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah: 10:29 a.m. MDT; 4 minutes, 29 seconds

• Arizona Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park: 10:29 a.m. MDT; 4 minutes, 16 seconds

• Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado: 10:31 a.m. MDT; 2 minutes, 57 seconds

• New Mexico's Chaco Culture National Park: 10:32 a.m. MDT; 4 minutes, 42 seconds

• Albuquerque, New Mexico: 10:34 a.m. MDT; 4 minutes, 42 seconds

• San Antonio: 11:52 a.m. CDT; 4 minutes, 5 seconds

• Corpus Christi, Texas: 11:55 a.m. CDT; 4 minutes, 52 seconds

• Padre Island National Seashore, Texas: 11:56 a.m. CDT; 4 minutes, 52 seconds

• Edzná Maya archaeological site, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico: 11:23 a.m. CST; 4 minutes, 32 seconds

While it's a great excuse to visit a new place, the most important factor in watching an eclipse is clear weather. Check the weather and forecast before making plans, and plan to change your location as short-term weather approaches.

Why is the Annular Solar Eclipse in 2023 going to be so Special?

The 2023 annular sun eclipse is a fantastic reason to travel, and for eclipse chasers who have yet to view an annular solar eclipse, it's a perfect chance. However, it is mostly considered a warm-up for the 2024 complete solar eclipse.

As with all eclipses, a shadow in the middle of the Moon's path is important if you want to experience the eclipse's spectacle as long as possible. By doing so, you must position yourself on or near the centerline. Experienced eclipse chasers, on the other hand, will go to the northern border of the path, to places like Dolores, Colorado, and Santa Fe, New Mexico, to see a far more brief but potentially more spectacular show.

Viewers of these places will see a ring of fire that will only last a few minutes. But it will be less circular, and part of the moon's arm will almost appear to be covering the sun. This can lead to visible "Bailey Beads" rings around the Moon during the circular phase, similar to those seen during a total solar eclipse.

Where to see the Partial Solar Eclipse

The partial solar eclipse shining above a boat was captured by Satish Bate from Marin Drive in Mumbai India(Image credit: Hindustan Times/Satish Bate via Getty Images)

Few people make the effort to travel to observe an annular hybrid eclipse event, despite the Fire Ring receiving a lot of attention. After all, a total hybrid eclipse is nothing compared to these occurrences. On October 14, 2023, most of the United States will experience a massive solar dimming. Here's what America's 10 biggest cities will experience that day: Only one will see a fire ring:

• New York: 23% at 1:22 p.m. EDT
• Los Angeles: 71% at 9:24 a.m. PDT
• Chicago: 43% at 11:58 a.m. CDT
• Houston: 85% at 11:58 a.m. CDT
• Phoenix: 79% at 9:31 a.m. MST
• Philadelphia: 25% at 1:21 p.m. EDT
• "Ring of Fire" will begin in San Antonio at 11:52 CDT.
• San Diego: 68% a.m. at 9:26 PDT
• Dallas: 80% at 11:52 a.m. CDT
• San Jose, California: 75% at 9:20 a.m. PDT

How to Safely View the Partial and Annular Solar Eclipse?

Solar eclipse glasses are an excellent method to observe the sun safely when used properly. (Image credit: www.dmacphoto.com/Daniel MacDonald via Getty Images)

You should always use sunscreen to see this condition safely. The risks apply whether a partial hybrid eclipse or an annular solar shadowing occurs where you are. Since the new moon can never cover more than 91% of the sun's disk, a "Fire Ring" is nothing more than an exceptionally lovely partial solar shadowing. Observers should wear hybrid eclipse sunglasses, and cameras, eyeglasses, and binoculars should have a sun filter in front of the lens.

Here is our guide on how to safely observe the sun. Tell you everything you need to know about safely observing the sun.

When will there be another Annular Solar Eclipse with a Ring of Fire?

Following the annular solar eclipse of October 14, 2023, the next annular solar shadowing will occur on October 2, 2024, when it will see a ring of fire across the Pacific Ocean, Southern Chile, and Argentina area. At the peak of the eclipse in the ocean, a fire ring will last 7 minutes and 25 seconds, but the sweet spot will be Easter Island (Rapa Nui), about 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers) off Chile's west coast. There, you can stand among the moai statues on this volcanic island and see the Fire Ring for 6 minutes and 9 seconds.

Further Resources

Want to anticipate the future more? A summary of solar shadowing through 2030 can be found on NASA's Eclipse website. On the website Eclipse Wise, which is devoted to eclipse predictions, you may read more about solar and lunar eclipses. You can also get gorgeous maps on Michael Zeiler's Great American Eclipse and interactive Google Maps on Xavier Jubier's Eclipse website. You can see weather and meteorology from meteorologist Jay Anderson at eclipsephile.com.