This Saturday, millions will be able to catch a glimpse of an annular solar eclipse as it cuts its way southeast across the Western Hemisphere.
An annular solar eclipse occurs when the moon is at its farthest point from Earth and passes between the sun and Earth, bathing the Earth in a lunar shadow. Because the moon is farther away from Earth and appears smaller than the sun, the moon only partially covers the sun, creating a “ring of fire” around the moon for those in the right viewing areas.
The eclipse will cross North, Central, and South America, starting in Oregon Saturday morning and ending in Brazil later in the day. While Santa Barbara County is outside the path of annularity — meaning eclipse viewers here won’t be treated to the “ring of fire” effect — sun-spotters will still be able to see the sun partially obscured by the moon.
