Early Thursday morning a few fortunate folks from Canada to Siberia were treated to the full “Ring of Fire” annular [NOTE: NOT annual] solar eclipse. But the show was also at least partially visible for a larger number of folks in the Upper Midwest and New England.
Maybe this path is a little easier to understand:
[For the curious, the Negative Path of Annularity is when the sun will be positioned in the annular eclipse before sunrise – making it very difficult to view.]
We should also note that there are different types of solar eclipses:
And for those astronomy-loving folks who actually remember what creates a umbra or penumbra (let alone an antumbra) here’s a diagrammatic representation of the alignments:
Time to get on with the show. First, let’s meet and greet some of the photographers around the world who captured all that astronomical science in action, and the folks around the world who got to enjoy it in real-time:
So let’s start with views from a couple of world capitals, beginning with Washington, DC.
Then London featuring the eclipse framed by two spires – the one with the flag is the spire atop the House of Parliament, and the other is the spire atop the Elizabeth Tower (formerly called the Clock Tower – but renamed in 2012 in honor of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II), which houses Big Ben.
Toronto, the largest city in Canada (but not its capital), featured the 1,800-foot (553-meter) CN Tower as a popular focal point.
America’s largest city also offered a couple interesting views. A reflection of the eclipse in a skyscraper window in Midtown Manhattan, view over the Hudson River and one from Brooklyn of its namesake bridge over the East River. (Which isn’t really a river at all – but a salt water tidal estuary.)
But I really got a kick from all the other locales that were also able to enjoy the annular eclipse.
Oh, and the next total solar eclipse in the United States will be on April 8, 2024 – visible (weather permitting) from Texas to Maine.
10 Responses to ““Ring of Fire” – Annular Solar Eclipse”
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Thank you , Nameless. I seem never to be in the right place at the right time for these, but that only makes me more appreciative of goodphotography of them. We do live in a beautiful universe (whose biggest flaw seem to be humans. And at that not all of them – but far too many of them.)
I was lucky enough to be in the right spot at the right time to see a total solar eclipse, but that may have been more than 25 years ago.
This eclipse was very much ‘out of my way’ and for that reason, there was hardly any attention drawn to it Down Under. So thank you for putting this great coverage together, Nameless. I loved the scientific explanation too.
Beautiful pictures of the eclipse.
Appreciate the educational information too , Nameless.
Thank you.
Marvelous! One of the times I am able to say that I’m sorry I’m not living in the NYC area, any longer.
I did see one on Long Island, N.Y. in the late ‘6o’s/early ’70’s, and the one that Dumphole looked at naked eye and brainless.
And, thanks for the science refresher.
Thanks for coupling beauty and science Nameless–makes me think some flags’ choice was based on this solar event. Did see a total eclipse from the school playground with classmates in the 1960s where we had pinholes through pieces of paper to use.
Thank you Nameless for this fantastic educational posting regarding the Ring of Fire Annual Eclipse. These photo are so Beautiful. Appreciate all of the educational information you shared. Real enjoyment reading/viewing it.
Thanks Nameless
thanks, I love this type of stuff……
Because I’d always wanted to visit Mongolia (it’s almost impossible..they have no facilities for tourists outside the capital, Ulan Battor) my friend Joanne and I jumped at the chance to go on a USC trip to see the total solar eclipse which would be fully visible in the Altai mountains.
The visit to Mongolia was unforgettable but I want to tell you about the ”eclipse fans” who were on the trip with us. (Joanne and I were the ONLY non-eclipse fanatics.) These are folks who spend their time and money going everywhere there’s an eclipse visible. When we were there, they were excited about renting a ship to see the next one, which would best be visible from the ocean.
At the height of the eclipse, they sang, danced, blew whistles and (some of them) meditated. The local Mongolians (who traveled with us to provide gers/yurts and food) joined in with stringed instruments and small drums.
Every time I hear of a solar eclipse, I know those people are planning, spending and preparing for their ritual trek to see it. Amazing.
That really must have been the trip of a lifetime – and experience for the ages. I’m so glad you got to dothat!