How to Watch October's Annular Solar Eclipse, Including Where to See It

Mar. 15, 2025

How to Watch the Annular Solar Eclipse.Photo:Getty

Getty

The last solar eclipse of 2024 is officially coming up and will bring a spectacular view of the sun!The solar eclipse— which will be visible on Oct. 2 — will be an annular eclipse, which doesn’t fully cover the sun like a total solar eclipse.According toNASA, an annular solar eclipse occurs when “the moon passes between the sun and Earth while it is at its farthest point from Earth.” The moon will appear smaller since it will be further away from Earth than usual and will not completely cover the sun. This phenomenon is what causes the “ring of fire” appearance in the sky.While this solar eclipse will bring incredible views in the sky, what does it mean astrologically?Astrologer Kyle Thomastells PEOPLE that eclipses typically bring “intense changes” the weeks before and after the cosmic phenomenon."[Eclipses] blast open a door to us as we embrace new opportunities, projects, plans and horizons," Thomas says. “Most people receive news of a solar eclipse on the day it occurs, but others may instead notice the shift in the weeks that surround it.“Here’s everything to know about the upcoming annular solar eclipse, including when and where to see it in the sky.When is the 2024 annular eclipse?Total solar eclipse in Cleveland, Ohio.Mike Lawrie/GettyThe annular solar eclipse will take place on Oct. 2. This will be the last solar eclipse phenomenon to take place in 2024. Thefirst total solar eclipsetook place earlier this year on April 8.Where will the annular solar eclipse be visible?Solar eclipse in Monroe Lake, Indiana.Edward M. Pio Roda/GettyAccording toNASA, the path of annularity will run through parts of Argentina and Chile. Meanwhile, the partial solar eclipse will be visible in other parts of South America, Antarctica, North America, the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.What time does the annular solar eclipse start?The partial solar eclipse over New York.Fatih Aktas/Anadolu via GettyAccording toTimeandate.com, the annular solar eclipse will take place at 3:57 p.m. local time In Argentina and at 12:23 p.m. local time in Chile. The eclipse will peak at around 3:45 p.m. local time in both locations before ending at around 6:45 p.m. local time.For those viewing the partial eclipse, the eclipse will begin at around 11:43 p.m. EDT.How do you watch the annular solar eclipse?People watching the solar eclipse in Bryant Park, New York.Fatih Aktas/Anadolu via GettyLike any eclipse, it is not safe to look directly at the sun without wearing the proper eye protection.According toNASA, “you must look through safe solar viewing glasses (‘eclipse glasses’) or a safe handheld solar viewer at all times"to prevent eye injury. NASA also emphasizes that eclipse glasses are not the same as regular sunglasses and that “regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe for viewing the sun.“Viewers also shouldn’t look at the sun through “a camera lens, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while wearing eclipse glasses or using a handheld solar viewer” since that can also damage these device’s filters.If you’re not able to find eclipse glasses or a solar viewer, NASA recommends using an indirect method - like the pinhole projection method - to view the eclipse safely.When is the next solar eclipse?People watch the total solar elipse from Rangeley Town Cove Park in Rangeley, Maine.Derek Davis/gettyThe next partial solar eclipse will take place on March 29, 2025, and will be visible in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, the Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean.If you’re hoping to catch another annular or total solar eclipse, you will have to wait until 2026.NASAreports that the next annular solar eclipse will be visible over Antarctica on Feb. 17, 2026, while a total solar eclipse will be visible over Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia and parts of Portugal on Aug. 12, 2026.

The last solar eclipse of 2024 is officially coming up and will bring a spectacular view of the sun!

The solar eclipse— which will be visible on Oct. 2 — will be an annular eclipse, which doesn’t fully cover the sun like a total solar eclipse.

According toNASA, an annular solar eclipse occurs when “the moon passes between the sun and Earth while it is at its farthest point from Earth.” The moon will appear smaller since it will be further away from Earth than usual and will not completely cover the sun. This phenomenon is what causes the “ring of fire” appearance in the sky.

While this solar eclipse will bring incredible views in the sky, what does it mean astrologically?Astrologer Kyle Thomastells PEOPLE that eclipses typically bring “intense changes” the weeks before and after the cosmic phenomenon.

“[Eclipses] blast open a door to us as we embrace new opportunities, projects, plans and horizons,” Thomas says. “Most people receive news of a solar eclipse on the day it occurs, but others may instead notice the shift in the weeks that surround it.”

Here’s everything to know about the upcoming annular solar eclipse, including when and where to see it in the sky.

When is the 2024 annular eclipse?

Total solar eclipse in Cleveland, Ohio.Mike Lawrie/Getty

Mike Lawrie/Getty

The annular solar eclipse will take place on Oct. 2. This will be the last solar eclipse phenomenon to take place in 2024. Thefirst total solar eclipsetook place earlier this year on April 8.

Where will the annular solar eclipse be visible?

Solar eclipse in Monroe Lake, Indiana.Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty

Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty

According toNASA, the path of annularity will run through parts of Argentina and Chile. Meanwhile, the partial solar eclipse will be visible in other parts of South America, Antarctica, North America, the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.

What time does the annular solar eclipse start?

The partial solar eclipse over New York.Fatih Aktas/Anadolu via Getty

Fatih Aktas/Anadolu via Getty

According toTimeandate.com, the annular solar eclipse will take place at 3:57 p.m. local time In Argentina and at 12:23 p.m. local time in Chile. The eclipse will peak at around 3:45 p.m. local time in both locations before ending at around 6:45 p.m. local time.

For those viewing the partial eclipse, the eclipse will begin at around 11:43 p.m. EDT.

How do you watch the annular solar eclipse?

People watching the solar eclipse in Bryant Park, New York.Fatih Aktas/Anadolu via Getty

Like any eclipse, it is not safe to look directly at the sun without wearing the proper eye protection.

According toNASA, “you must look through safe solar viewing glasses (‘eclipse glasses’) or a safe handheld solar viewer at all times"to prevent eye injury. NASA also emphasizes that eclipse glasses are not the same as regular sunglasses and that “regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe for viewing the sun.”

Viewers also shouldn’t look at the sun through “a camera lens, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while wearing eclipse glasses or using a handheld solar viewer” since that can also damage these device’s filters.

If you’re not able to find eclipse glasses or a solar viewer, NASA recommends using an indirect method - like the pinhole projection method - to view the eclipse safely.

When is the next solar eclipse?

People watch the total solar elipse from Rangeley Town Cove Park in Rangeley, Maine.Derek Davis/getty

Derek Davis/getty

The next partial solar eclipse will take place on March 29, 2025, and will be visible in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, the Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean.

If you’re hoping to catch another annular or total solar eclipse, you will have to wait until 2026.NASAreports that the next annular solar eclipse will be visible over Antarctica on Feb. 17, 2026, while a total solar eclipse will be visible over Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia and parts of Portugal on Aug. 12, 2026.

source: people.com