Annular Vs. Total Eclipse
Annular Eclipse:
When the moon is further away from the earth and passes between the sun and the earth causing an eclipse that does not completely cover the sun from view, this is called an annular eclipse. During one of these eclipses, you can see what is called the "ring of fire" effect where the sun creates a ring around the moon.
Total Eclipse:
During a total eclipse the moon passes between the earth and the sun completely blocking the sun from view for a brief period of time.
While large areas might experience a percentage of a total eclipse, to be able to see the sun completely disappear you must be in what is called "the path of totality".
Image Credits: Left: JAXA/NASA/SAO/NAOJ, Right: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani
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2024 Total Solar Eclipse
2023 Annular Solar Eclipse
- On the Offical NASA Broadcast page, you will find the YouTube video where NASA will be broadcasting the eclipse live on October 14, 2023, from 11:30 AM-1:15 PM EDT.
- NASA's page on the 2023 Annular Eclipse
- Eclipse America 2023 Eclipse
- Interactive Google Map (Xavier Jubier)
When will this happen again?
With the 2024 total eclipse, some portion of the eclipse will be visible from the entire contiguous United States. This will not happen again until August of 2044.
There will be other eclipses between now and then, but what makes this eclipse special is it is a total eclipse and the contiguous United States visibility.
**To see the full effect of the eclipse, you must be in the path of totality.**
Please remember to never look directly at the sun.