Key takeaways:
- The “ring of fire” eclipse of the sun was visible from Oregon to Texas on October 14th, 2023.
- The moon passed between the Earth and the sun while at its farthest point from Earth, creating a crescent-shaped shadow on the ground and a “ring of fire” in the sky.
- The next annular solar eclipse visible from American skies will be in June 21, 2039, and will only pass over the skies in the state of Alaska.
On Saturday, October 14th, 2023, the United States experienced a rare “ring of fire” eclipse of the sun. This annular solar eclipse, the last to be visible from American skies until June 21, 2039, was visible from Oregon to Texas.
The eclipse began just after 8 a.m. local time in Oregon and ended midday in Texas, according to NASA. During an annular solar eclipse, the moon passes between the Earth and the sun while it is at its farthest point from Earth. This creates a crescent-shaped shadow on the ground and a “ring of fire” in the sky.
The eclipse was met with cheers from crowds that gathered along the narrow path of the eclipse. In Albuquerque, the eclipse coincided with an international balloon fiesta that typically draws tens of thousands of spectators and hundreds of hot air balloons.
The 2039 eclipse will only pass over the skies in the state of Alaska. Until then, eclipse-watchers will have to wait for the next annular solar eclipse to be visible from American skies.
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