A rare “annular” solar eclipse is set to happen on October 14 when the Moon will partially cover the middle bit of the Sun, making it look like a “ring of fire.” The solar eclipse will only be visible in North and South America but here is how you can view it anyway. As seen from the Americas, the Moon will pass in front of the Sun, creating an annular solar eclipse, 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. It will be visible in many parts of the United States, Mexico and countries in South and Central America. An annular eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth when it is at its farthest point away from our planet. Because the Moon is so far away, it does not completely block the Sun. It will only block the middle portion of the star, creating the “ring of fire” effect. Just like during most other eclipses, it is not safe to view an annular eclipse with the naked eye. The map above shows the path taken by the eclipse, where it will be visible. The outermost red lines trace the part of the world where at least some part of the eclipse will be visible. The inner red lines show how the Moon will cover at least 20 per cent, 40 per cent, 60 per cent and 80 per cent of the Sun at the moment of greater eclipse, respectively. The blue line in the centre shows the narrow region through which a full annular eclipse will be visible. As you can see, the eclipse will not be visible from India. But you can still watch it through the livestream that will be hosted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration below.
