The second solar eclipse of 2023 will happen this Saturday—and it will be an all-American event.
It comes 177 days after a total solar eclipse on April 20, 2023 in Australia and 177 days before a total solar eclipse across Mexico, the U.S. and Canada.
It will be what astronomers call an annular (“ring of fire”) solar eclipse during which a more distant, so smaller-looking new moon will cover the central 90% of the sun, but only as seen from a narrow path through nine U.S. states.
The last annular solar eclipse on the planet occurred in Canada on June 10, 2021, causing a huge partial solar eclipse across the U.S. northeast. The next annular eclipse will happen on October 2, 2024 in South America and Easter island.
Where To See The ‘Ring Of Fire’ Solar Eclipse
The path of the annular solar eclipse crosses Oregon, touches parts of California, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas, which is home to about 6.5 million people, though another 68 million people live within 200 miles of the path.
After the path exits the U.S. a “ring of fire” will be revealed to those in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia and Brazil.
On October 14, everyone else in the U.S. and beyond will see a partial solar eclipse. Crucially, at no point will the sun be completely covered by the moon, so solar eclipse glasses must be worn at all times to avoid serious eye damage. It’s also important that all photographic equipment has solar filters in place.
Iconic Backdrops
“On October 14 an annular solar eclipse will cross through a dozen iconic and heavily visited national parks the American southwest from Crater Lake in Oregon through Bryce Canyon, Glen Canyon, Capitol Reef, Chaco Canyon and Mesa Verde,” said astronomer, artist and eclipse-chaser Tyler Nordgren, in an interview. “All these absolutely gorgeous parks have been heavily advertising these places as destinations for people to go for the eclipse.”
Other beauty spots include Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park in Arizona, Chaco Culture National Park in New Mexico and Lost Maples State Natural Area in Texas Hill Country.
Thankfully the U.S. government shutdown—which would have closed many of those parks—was averted last week.
Note: Be aware that visitors to backcountry locations will have limited facilities and resources. Be prepared to bring everything you need—a full tank of fuel, food, cash, toilet paper, ice—because it may not be available at your intended destination.
Eclipse Cities
However, there are a handful of large cities in the path, including San Antonio in Texas, Albuquerque in New Mexico and Eugene in Oregon. Perhaps the busiest place in the entire path will be the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, which normally attracts about 100,000 people. This year its penultimate day coincides with the “ring of fire” solar eclipse and NASA will be on site to broadcast the event on NASA TV while also giving away 80,000 solar eclipse viewing glasses.
Although none will be in the path, there are several cities close to it that will enjoy very large partial solar eclipses:
- Salt Lake City (86%)
- Las Vegas (82%)
- Dallas (80%)
- Denver (78%)
- Los Angeles (70%)
Observing events include the Ring of Fire Eclipse Festival from October 11-16 in Ely, Nevada, an organized observing event at Goosenecks State Park, Utah, and an organized event in Mission San José in San Antonio, Texas.
I am the editor of WhenIsTheNextEclipse.com and author of “The Complete Guide To The Great North American Eclipse of April 8, 2024.”
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.