Ring of Fire will appear in the sky above the Earth on a significant day for Ukrainians: where to watch the broadcast

This autumn, a uniquely spectacular celestial phenomenon will be observed over the Earth - an annular solar eclipse. It occurs when the Moon at its peak covers the solar disc so that it turns into a ring of fire. This will happen on the day when Ukrainians have been celebrating the Intercession for many years, and in recent years, the Day of Defenders of Ukraine on 14 October (this year, both holidays were moved to 1 October due to the church's transition to a new calendar).

According to the Live Science portal, the eclipse will be fully visible in North America. Residents of Oregon will be the first to see it, and then it will move through Northern California, Nevada, Utah, northeastern Arizona, southwestern Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas. And then it will be possible to admire it on the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula, in Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Colombia. The phenomenon will be available in Ukraine only online. (To access the video, please scroll down to the end of the news story)

In total, scientists estimate that the eclipse will last about three hours. However, its most spectacular phase - the transformation of the Sun into a ring of fire - will be visible only within the narrow zone described above, and only for a few minutes.

An annular solar eclipse is different from a total solar eclipse. It does not cause dusk in the middle of the day and a drop in air temperature. In addition, it can only be observed through protective devices. But the beauty of such an eclipse is unforgettable.

This type of phenomenon occurs because the Moon passes in front of the Sun, being at a greater distance from the Earth in its elliptical orbit. Thus, it visually appears smaller than our star and covers it only partially. At some point, the centres of the celestial bodies coincide and a ring of fire appears in the sky. During this eclipse, the Moon will cover up to 91% of the Sun, meaning that the ring will be quite distinct.

The peak phase in the narrow band where the phenomenon will be fully visible will last only from 4 minutes 29 seconds to 4 minutes 52 seconds. The longest "ring of fire" will be visible from Padre Island on the Texas coast. Estimates show that the path of the eclipse will pass through remote areas of the south-west of the United States, where national and state parks are located. The largest cities in the path of the phenomenon will be Albuquerque in New Mexico and San Antonio in Texas.

Those who will not be able to see the phenomenon with their own eyes will have several options for online broadcasting. The Exploratorium Science Museum in San Francisco and the website www.timeanddate.com will host it. It has already launched a subscription option to watch the eclipse using astronomical devices.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL reported that solar activity may peak earlier than scientists expected and how this threatens humanity.

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