There's an annular solar eclipse occurring today, October 2, 2024, and statistically you're unlikely to be in the path where the full ring of fire will appear, but you can watch the whole event online.
Time and Date are live-streaming the October 2 annular solar eclipse, and you can watch online for free below:
October 2 2024 annular solar eclipse explained
This annular solar eclipse will be visible across much of South America, but for the full 'ring of fire' effect you'll need to be on Easter Island or in Chile or Argentina.
Unlike a total solar eclipse, when the Moon covers all of the Sun's 'disk', during an annular solar eclipse the distance of the Moon relative to the Sun and Earth means that not all of the disk is covered.
This leads to a 'ring of fire' effect in the sky, and is really quite something to behold.
Recent annular eclipses include the annular solar eclipse on October 14, 2023, another on June 21, 2020 and December 26, 2019.
During this annular solar eclipse on October 2, 2024, about 93% of the Sun will be eclipsed by the Moon, and a ring of fire will be visible for a maximum 7 minutes 25 seconds.
If you're observing the eclipse in person, whether full annular or partial, the whole eclipse must be viewed through solar eclipse glasses or solar telescopes.
It may be possible to see phenomena such as Baily's beads, the last and first drops of sunlight.
If you're not able to observe the October annular solar eclipse, you can watch online via the livestream at the top of this page.
The Time and Date livestream of the October 2, 2024 annular solar eclipse is being set up by Claudio Martínez at the Instituto Latinoamericano de Astroturismo and broadcast from Puerto Deseado, Argentina.
Sites where the eclipse is visible
- Orongo, Easter Island (6 min 28 sec, 14:03 EAST)
- Ahu Tongariki, Easter Island (5 min 50 sec, 14:04 EAST)
- Cochrane, Chile (5 min 40 sec, 17:21 CLST)
- Chile Chico, Chile (0 min 0 sec, 17:25 CLST) (for extended Baily's beads)
- Puerto Deseado, Argentina (3 min 22 sec, 17:27 ART)
- Puerto San Julián, Argentina (5 min 12 sec, 17:24 ART)
if you observe the annular solar eclipse in person or online, let us know what you thought by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com
