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Get Ready to Watch the "Ring of Fire" Solar Eclipse on June 10

Just a bit more than a week ago we enjoyed a rare Flower Moon followed by a total lunar eclipse. And if you thought that’s where the row of celestial events stops, you’d be wrong. Mark your calendars because on June 10th, people across the northern hemisphere will have the chance to experience a "ring of fire" solar eclipse.
Annual eclipse from 2011 as captured by Hinode spacecraft 1 photo
Photo: NASA/Hinode/XRT
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves directly between the Sun and the Earth, fully or partially blocking the light that falls onto our planet. Next week we are going to see an annular eclipse (not to be confused with 'annual,' which refers to a phenomenon that occurs once a year or every year). An annular eclipse takes place when our natural satellite is the furthest away from Earth, making it appear smaller than the Sun.

From the observer's perspective, the Moon will not cover the Sun's view entirely. This will make it look like there's a "ring of fire" around the Moon. The lucky skywatchers who will be able to view this phenomenon will be those located in parts of Canada, Greenland, and northern Russia.

In some places, viewers won't get to see this ring around the Moon. What they'll be witnessing instead is a partial solar eclipse. This occurs when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are not perfectly aligned. Only a portion of the Sun's surface will be obscured. The partial solar eclipse can be spotted in the eastern U.S. and northern Alaska, as well as much of Canada and portions of the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and northern Africa.

The annular eclipse will be visible in the U.S. across the Southeast, Northeast, Midwest, and Northern Alaska. The event will occur before, during, and shortly after sunrise in many of these areas. This implies that skywatchers must have a clear view of the horizon to actually be able to witness the eclipse.

NASA advises people to wear special solar viewing or eclipse glasses throughout the entire celestial event if they want to face the Sun. Even if the Sun is partially or fully covered by the Moon, it is never safe to stare directly at its rays. Moreover, it's important to know that regular sunglasses do not protect the eyes and should not be used while watching the eclipse.

If you don't have solar viewing or eclipse glasses, rest assured. NASA can also teach you how to DIY your own pinhole projector. According to the agency, Pinhole projectors should not be used to stare directly at the Sun, but rather to project sunlight onto a surface. Here's a video below where you can learn how to make one at home from a cereal box.

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About the author: Florina Spînu
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Florina taught herself how to drive in a Daewoo Tico (a rebadged Suzuki Alto kei car) but her first "real car" was a VW Golf. When she’s not writing about cars, drones or aircraft, Florina likes to read anything related to space exploration and take pictures in the middle of nature.
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