A rare “annular” solar eclipse is set to happen this week on October 14, when the Moon will partially cover the middle part of the Sun, making it appear like a “ring of fire.” Unfortunately, the eclipse cannot be seen from India as it will only be visible from North America and South America. When viewed from parts of North America and South America, the Moon will pass in front of the Sun between 8.35 PM IST on October 14 and 2.25 AM IST on October 15, according to the astronomy guide website In the Sky. An annular eclipse is what happens when the Moon is at its farthest point from the Earth during a solar eclipse. Since the Moon is so far away, it cannot completely block out the Sun. Instead, it will only block out the middle bit, creating a “ring of fire” effect. But just like during other times, it is not safe to view the Sun with the naked eye during an annular eclipse. While the eclipse will not be visible in India, you can view it through the live stream below, hosted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Interestingly, NASA plans to launch sounding rockets into the shadow of the eclipse. People in many parts of North and South America will see the Sun dimming to about 10 per cent of its normal brightness on October 14. But those living near the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico will also witness sudden bright streaks speeding towards the eclipse—three sounding rockets the space agency plans to launch.
