An annular eclipse will occur on Earth on October 14, 2023. Six months later, we’ll experience… a total solar eclipse. Here’s the reason why.
Solar eclipses occur when the Moon moves between the Earth and the Sun, temporarily blocking the Sun’s light. However, for a solar eclipse to occur, certain physical conditions and configurations are necessary for a solar eclipse to occur. The difference between a total and an annular solar eclipse is related to the distance between the Earth and the Moon at the time of the eclipse.
Annular solar eclipse:
Positioning: Like a total eclipse, the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun.
Moon phase: Also new moon.
Distance: A significant difference is that the Moon is too far from Earth to cover the Sun’s disk completely.
Shadow: The Moon projects an antumbra (lighter, larger shadow) onto the Earth.
Visibility: Observers within this shadow will see the Moon block the center of the Sun, leaving visible a bright ring of light formed by the edge of the Sun’s disk.
When the Sun, Moon, and Earth form one line, a solar eclipse can occur at the moment of the new moon. Whether an eclipse is total (as shown above) or annular (as shown below) is determined entirely by the comparative angular sizes of the Sun and Moon from a viewer’s perspective on Earth. Credit: Ben Gibson/Big Think
Total solar eclipse:
Positioning: The Moon should be between the Earth and the Sun.
Moon phase: New Moon (the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun and is not visible from the Earth).
Distance: The Moon is close enough to the Earth to completely block the Sun when it passes in front of it.
Shadow: The Moon projects umbra (dark shadow) onto the surface of the Earth, making the day as dark as night for a short time.
Trajectory: A location on Earth must be within the umbra to observe a total eclipse.
In both cases, eclipses are visible only from certain parts of the Earth and last only a few minutes. The axes of illumination and the observer’s position are critical to the type and quality of the eclipse observed.
Where will the eclipse be visible?
Regions will experience at least a partial eclipse: West Africa, North America, South America, Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic.
Below is a list of cities where the annular eclipse will be visible. According to https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2023-october-14
Consequences of the annular eclipse October 14, 2023
Interestingly, this October’s annular solar eclipse will be a precursor to the total solar eclipse that will follow six months later in April next year.
However, the most striking examples of upcoming astronomical events are 2027 and 2028.
On February 6, 2027, we will experience an annular solar eclipse with a new moon at its apogee, close to the perihelion of the Sun, and a “ring of fire” phase lasting almost 8 minutes.
Then, six months later, on August 2, 2027, this century’s longest total solar eclipse will occur, when the new moon near perigee will eclipse the Sun at aphelion with a complete phase lasting 6 minutes and 23 seconds.
And another six months later, on January 26, 2028, another annular solar eclipse is expected, with the annular phase lasting a fantastic 10 minutes and 27 seconds.
The next total solar eclipse lasting more than 6 minutes will not occur until 2045, and we will see an annular eclipse lasting more than 10 minutes no earlier than 2131!
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