FLORENCE, Ala. — On Oct. 14, an annular eclipse of the sun will be visible along a path that runs through the southwestern United States. The University of North Alabama Planetarium will have programs about the eclipse on October 10 at 7 p.m. As well as October 12 and 13 at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. with an eclipse viewing on the day of the eclipse with solar projectors, telescopes, and eclipse glasses from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.
“An annular eclipse takes place when the moon is a little further away from the Earth than average so that it is smaller in the sky and does not completely cover the sun,” said Dr. Mel Blake, the associate professor of physics and astronomy and director of the UNA Planetarium. “The result is that there remains a ring of the sun not covered by the moon. This is why the annular eclipses are sometimes called a ‘ring of fire.’ The southwestern United States is favored for this eclipse and will see the ring of fire.”
Most of the country will see a partial solar eclipse of varying amounts depending on how far from the eclipse path that you happen to be located. Florence will experience 66 percent of the sun blocked by the moon at maximum eclipse. The event will begin at 10:36 a.m., reach maximum eclipse at about 12:05 p.m., and end at approximately 1:38 p.m.