**Spectacular 'Ring of Fire' Eclipse to Grace Skies on Oct. 2**

On Wednesday, Oct. 2, skywatchers will be treated to a mesmerizing celestial event as an annular solar eclipse sweeps across select parts of the Pacific Ocean, including Hawaii, and continues its path through southern Chile and southern Argentina before reaching the Atlantic Ocean.

An annular solar eclipse occurs when the moon aligns between the sun and the Earth, but is at a distance where it does not completely cover the sun. Instead, it leaves a stunning “ring of fire” visible around the moon’s silhouette. Unlike a total solar eclipse, where the moon entirely obscures the sun, an annular eclipse features the sun appearing as a glowing ring encircling the darkened moon.

The path of the eclipse's shadow, known as the antumbra, will predominantly traverse over the ocean. Consequently, only about 175,000 people—roughly 0.002% of the world’s population—will have the chance to witness the full spectacle of the moon being completely surrounded by the sun’s ring. In regions outside the antumbra, where the moon passes in front of the sun without creating the full ring, viewers will observe a partial solar eclipse.

The event consists of five main stages: first contact, second contact, maximum contact, third contact, and fourth contact. It begins with the moon's shadow touching the sun's edge at 11:15 am EDT (1542 GMT) over the Pacific Ocean. Second contact follows at 12:24 pm EDT (1624 GMT), marking the beginning of the annularity, where viewers in Hawaii will start observing the ring of fire.

Maximum contact, the peak moment of the eclipse, will be witnessed at 12:45 pm EDT (1645 GMT) over the Pacific. The cosmic phenomenon will then grace the skies of southern Chile at 4:20 pm EDT (2020 GMT) and southern Argentina shortly after at 4:25 pm EDT (2025 GMT). The magnificent ring of fire will last only a few moments before the moon begins to move away from the sun during the third contact stage at 4:30 pm EDT (2030 GMT) over Argentina.

Finally, the eclipse concludes at the fourth contact stage at 2147 GMT when the moon completely retreats from the sun's disk, ending its astounding display.

Observers should always use proper solar eclipse glasses during all phases of the event to protect their eyes from the sun’s intense rays. Join enthusiasts and experts alike in tracking this rare celestial event online for live updates and detailed coverage.