Johnny Cash was singing about love in his timeless hit Ring of Fire, but it's an appropriate soundtrack song for one of October's premier sky-gazing events: a "ring of fire" solar eclipse. The early October event will feature a glowing ring of light as the moon blocks out the sun and casts a shadowy path along part of the globe.
The eclipse occurs on Wednesday, Oct. 2. The timing for viewing windows will vary depending on the location. The eclipse will trace a curving line starting in the Pacific Ocean at 8:42 a.m. PT on Wednesday. The eclipse completes its journey at 2:47 p.m. PT over the Atlantic Ocean.
Check in with Timeanddate.com — an online resource covering time, time zones and astronomical events — for start and end times. Search for your location with the 3D path globe to see if the eclipse will be visible to you.
What is an annular eclipse?
Folks not in the main path of the annular eclipse may be able to see a partial eclipse, which looks like a chunk has been taken out of the sun.
NASA/Noah MoranYou're probably familiar with a total solar eclipse, when the moon passes between Earth and the sun and hides the sun, plunging the areas along the eclipse path into darkness. The Oct. 2 eclipse is an annular eclipse, not a total eclipse. An annular eclipse happens when the moon is at the far point in its orbit around Earth. The moon appears "smaller" than the sun and doesn't completely block its light. That's when you get an eclipse that creates a bright ring. The sun is never fully hidden.
The ring of fire is the highlight of an annular eclipse, but the whole process is beautiful as the moon moves into and out of place. It's important to wear eclipse glasses while viewing the event. "Because the sun is never completely covered, observers must wear proper eye protection at all times during this eclipse," NASA cautioned in an eclipse explainer. Here's how to tell if your solar eclipse glasses are safe.
Who can see the solar eclipse?
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NASA's eclipse path map shows the track of the Oct. 2 annular eclipse.
NASA's Scientific Visualization StudioAnyone with internet access can livestream the eclipse, but only a select part of the globe has the chance to see it in person. Each eclipse follows a path, and you need to be within range to witness the event. The full annular eclipse with the ring-of-fire effect will be visible in parts of Argentina and Chile.
A long list of locations — including parts of Brazil, Fiji, Hawaii, Mexico, New Zealand and American Samoa — may be able to catch a partial eclipse. Viewers in these areas may see a dark bite out of the sun, as if Cookie Monster had taken a chomp out of a cookie. Even if you're in a prime viewing area, you need to hope for clear skies. Clouds can put a damper on the experience.
Livestream the solar eclipse
The eclipse will spend most of its time tracking over ocean waters, so a livestream may be your best bet for getting in on the action. Timeanddate.com has a livestream scheduled for the eclipse starting at 10:15 a.m. PT on Wednesday. There's no substitute for seeing an eclipse in person, but a video stream is the next best thing. Get your Johnny Cash playlist together and enjoy the views.