2023-10-09 06:39:47
On October 14, residents of the American continent will have the chance to observe a grandiose spectacle in the sky: the Moon and the Sun will be perfectly aligned with the Earth, producing an annular solar eclipse. We explain everything about this phenomenon.
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Americans will be able to observe a “ring of fire” in the sky on October 14, 2023, created by the alignment of the Moon and Sun with the Earth. This phenomenon is called an annular solar eclipse: unlike a total solar eclipse, during which the Sun is completely obscured by the Moon, an annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is close to its apogee, i.e. that is to say the point of its orbit farthest from Earth. Its apparent size in the sky is then slightly smaller, because it is a little further away from us. As a result, even if the alignment between the Earth, the Moon and the Sun is perfect, our satellite will not succeed in completely hiding the solar disk, the latter appearing slightly larger than the Moon in the sky. Observers looking at the sky then see a very bright ring appear around the lunar disk, also called a “ring of fire,” during the peak of the eclipse. NASA offers on his website a faithful simulation of the phenomenon.
A nighttime sensation in broad daylight
The Sun’s brightness will drop to just 10% of its usual brightness at the peak of the eclipse. Be careful though: if you want to look directly at the phenomenon, it is important to note that you are observing the Sun, however obscured it may be! Looking directly at the Sun, even if it is eclipsed, can cause significant damage to the eyes, sometimes irreversible. To fully and peacefully enjoy the spectacle, it is strongly recommended to use specialized sunglasses or sun filters.
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These devices will not spoil the view in any way! They are designed to reduce visible sunlight to safe levels, and to filter infrared and ultraviolet radiation. They are not to be confused with simple sunglasses, and are generally much darker.
A phenomenon visible only from the American continent
The annular solar eclipse will only be visible from the American continent, first in North America, before sliding towards South America. An interactive map of the eclipse is available on the application Eclipse Guide, which will allow you to calculate the precise eclipse schedule for the chosen location. Among the best places to observe this eclipse is New Mexico, in the
UNITED STATES ; Armenia, Colombia; or La Ceiba, in Honduras. The start of the partial phase will appear at 3:03 p.m. GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). It will end at 8:55 p.m. GMT, with a maximum peak at 5:59 p.m. GMT. The reason the eclipse will last this long is because at its peak, the Moon is moving slightly slower than normal. It will therefore slide more slowly across the sky, hiding the solar disk for a longer time.
Maps of the eclipse path are presented on the NASA website. The entire United States (with the exception of Alaska) will thus be able to benefit from at least a partial eclipse: depending on the observation locations, the Sun will in fact only be partially obscured by the lunar disk. Likewise in Central and South America, where the peak of the eclipse will be visible from Colombia or Brazil. The rest of the continent will, however, benefit from an impressive spectacle, because the luminosity of the Sun will, for example, be obscured by 68.1% in Haiti, indicates on his website the Paris Observatory.
For the curious who cannot go there during the eclipse, NASA will broadcast live on his website from 5:30 p.m. the evolution of this “ring of fire” from different points of view in the United States. The American Space Agency will also take advantage of this eclipse to carry out its program Atmospheric Perturbations around the Eclipse Path (Apep), with the launch of three probes into the atmosphere designed to study the effects of the sudden drop in solar luminosity on the dynamics of the upper atmosphere. The next annular solar eclipse will take place on April 8, 2024.
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