Annular solar eclipses occur when the moon is at or near its farthest point from Earth in its orbit, preventing it from completely obscuring the sun and instead leaving a ring of the sun's fiery light visible.

The path of this annular eclipse will traverse the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, as well as Antarctica. However, those situated in Rapa Nui (Easter Island), and certain regions of Argentina and Chile, should have the best views of the "ring of fire" if weather conditions are favorable.

In addition to the areas experiencing the annular eclipse, a crescent-shaped partial solar eclipse will be visible in a wide range of locations including Hawaii, American Samoa, Brazil, Fiji, French Polynesia, Mexico, New Zealand, the Pitcairn Islands, Kiribati, Tonga, Uruguay, South Georgia, the Falkland Islands, and numerous other spots. Interested observers can check Time and Date's website to see if the partial eclipse will be visible in their area.

Observers in the path of either the annular or partial eclipse are advised to use proper eye protection, such as certified eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers, as looking directly at the sun can cause severe eye damage. The eclipse is scheduled to begin at 12:50 p.m. ET and will conclude by 4:39 p.m. ET, reaching its peak obscuration of the sun at 2:45 p.m. ET, lasting over 7 minutes.

The phenomenon will be first visible overland on Rapa Nui at about 3:07 p.m. ET, where the "ring of fire" will last for approximately 6 minutes and 23 seconds. Later, at 4:22 p.m. ET, the eclipse will be observable from Chile's Patagonian coast before becoming visible in Argentina and finally the South Atlantic Coast shortly thereafter. A partial eclipse will be visible north of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia by 4:36 p.m. ET.

To safely view the eclipse, specialized protective equipment is necessary. Sunglasses or damaged protective gear are insufficient. An indirect viewing method, such as a pinhole projector, is recommended for those without proper eyewear.

Additionally, the next major lunar event, the hunter's moon, will occur on October 17 and will be the closest supermoon of the year. Subsequent full moons include the beaver moon on November 15 and the cold moon on December 15. Sky-gazers can also look forward to a busy meteor shower season for the rest of 2024, promising plenty of opportunities to witness more celestial wonders.