Annular Solar Eclipse - October 14th, 2023
This gives an idea of what an annular, or “Ring of Fire” eclipse looks like. This comes from stock imagery (not my photo).
What is an Annular Eclipse?
You might think it happens once a year, but that’s a different word! “Annular” means shaped like a ring. An annular eclipse, also referred to fittingly as a “Ring of Fire” eclipse, occurs when the moon passes in front of the sun when the moon is far enough away from Earth in its orbit and so it does not appear large enough to completely cover the disc of sun. This leaves a perfect ring of the sun visible. Even when the eclipse is in its maximum phase and the moon is perfectly centered, viewing glasses should be worn, as the surface of the sun is still visible. While a ring of fire eclipse is quite awe-inspiring, it’s not usually regarded as the most spectacular. That title is generally reserved for a total solar eclipse, where the moon is closer and completely covers the disc of the sun. That said, the last annular eclipse widely visible in the US was in 2012, and the next one won’t be until 2048, so October 14th is a good opportunity if you ever want to see one without leaving the country!
Where and When Can I See the Eclipse?
In the US, the October 14th ring of fire eclipse will be visible in in parts of Oregon, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Texas, California, Idaho, Colorado, and Arizona. There are multiple maps available online where you can see the path of visibility, but not even the maps I’ve seen from NASA have all the details that you can find on this interactive map by Xavier Jubier. To witness the ring of fire, you’ll want to be in the path of the central shadow, the edges of which are indicated with red lines. The closer you are to the shadow center (blue line), the longer the duration of the eclipse. You can click anywhere on the map to get details such as the exact duration, start and end time, and more for that precise location. The rest of the US outside the red lines will see only a partial eclipse, but no ‘ring of fire’.
Path of Annular Solar Eclipse on October 14th, 2023. Click here for interactive map.
Trip and Viewing Tips
There’s no way of predicting how bad the traffic will be after October’s eclipse, but I highly recommend arriving at or near your destination the day before (13th) to avoid the potential chaos. More importantly, if possible, plan on staying put a few hours after the eclipse, or avoid travel until the next day. I don’t imagine traffic will be as bad for this one as it was for the total eclipse in 2017, but keep in mind that there will still probably be a lot of people traveling to the area for the sole purpose of viewing the eclipse, and that means that aftermath could be a lot like a parking garage after a major sporting event. This will probably especially be true in more rural areas where roads are not setup to handle high volumes of traffic well.
Nearly 20 miles to the nearest town in middle-of-nowhere Wyoming, and this was the line of stop-and-go traffic I was in after the total eclipse in 2017. It’s not a bad idea to stay put for the rest of the day, or even overnight before leaving, especially if you’re in a rural area.
Eclipse Glasses and Safety:
Eclipse glasses or an alternate method of solar viewing protection should be implemented when looking at the sun at any time the day of the October 14th Eclipse. This is not a total eclipse, even in its maximum phase, and without eye protection you can easily cause damage. I recommend obtaining glasses as soon as possible, as there could possibly be supply issues once we are nearer to the day. You can find a guide on where to buy glasses here. It’s also a good idea for everyone in your group to have their own pair, instead of having to take turns viewing. Find more information on eclipse safety from NASA here.
A demonstration of eclipse glasses use. Glasses or other methods for protection should be used anytime you look directly at the sun during an annular eclipse, even during the maximum phase.
Photography Tips
⚫ Use a tripod
⚫ Use a telephoto lens and zoom in as close as you can
⚫ Attach a solar filter or ND filter (10+stops) to your lens. Without it, you can damage your camera and eyes when looking through the viewfinder. Ensure you purchase one that fits your lens diameter.
⚫ Set your camera to manual mode. The “best” settings will vary widely depending on your equipment, especially the strength of your filter, but with that in mind, a good starting point would be ISO 100, aperture of 8, shutter speed of 1/500th of a second. After a test shot, review the image and make adjustments accordingly. Just adjusting the shutter speed will likely be sufficient to get the desired exposure.
⚫ To achieve the sharpest image possible, use a remote shutter release, or intervalometer, so you aren’t touching the camera when taking the photos.
I hope if you are planning on viewing the eclipse on October 14th everything goes well for you, and if you are interested in some info regarding other eclipse types and also the total eclipse coming up in April of next year, I shared info for that one here. As always, let me know if you have any questions!
