CALIFORNIA, USA — The “ring of fire” annular solar eclipse will be moving over California on Saturday morning, but this type of eclipse will be somewhat difficult to see.
A total solar eclipse took place a few years ago when the moon fully covered the sun and parts of North America experienced a spectacular show. When the sun is fully covered by the moon's orbit, you may directly look at it and may see the outward corona as well as experience a darkening akin to twilight. Then the sun emerges and daylight returns.
This eclipse on Saturday will not be a total eclipse but an "annular" eclipse where the moon almost covers the sun. The fact that the moon can completely cover the sun with the same diameter is a total coincidence and at times even though the path is similar if the distance is different the moon will appear smaller and leave a tiny sliver of sun visible surrounding the moon. This is sometimes called the "ring of fire." Because of the fact the sun is mostly visible before, during, and after the event direct viewing is discouraged.
We suggest these other methods to view the eclipse. It is also worth mentioning that in Northern California we will not see the full annular eclipse except for the far Northeastern part of the state. About 80% of the eclipse will be visible in Sacramento.
Tips to view the eclipse
- Special eclipse viewing glasses. These are specifically made to wear and view an eclipse safely. Often made of a mylar material it can block harmful rays of the sun and the rough shapes will be visible appearing as a crescent shape.
- Create a pinhole projection. There are various ways to do this but as sunlight passes through a tiny hole the light going past the hole will appear with the changing crescent shapes. It can be large or as simple as a hole in one index card or paper plate then a whole backing card or plate to pick up on the shadows.
- Look in the shadows. Probably the easiest and most interesting way to look at the eclipse will be in the shadows on the ground near a bush or tree. The resulting sunlight will often result in numerous crescent shapes of various patterns. It's highly unusual and often possible provided you have vegetation nearby.
- Use a household kitchen colander. The many smaller holes will all project the crescent shape provided you have it at the correct distance to the ground or other surface. You just have to adjust the distance in the moment to determine the best outcome.
- Welding Glass. You probably don't have this and if you aren't sure, don't use this method.
The peak time will be 9:20 a.m. in the Sacramento area with about 80% coverage of the moon over the sun. Cloud cover will also play into the viewing conditions and as of Friday morning the forecast calls for at least partly cloudy skies with the possibility of mostly cloudy skies at the time of viewing between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.
ABC10 will be providing a live stream of more ideal conditions HERE during the event on Saturday morning.
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