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2023 'ring of fire' solar eclipse will go directly over Texas

Coastal Bend residents will have a prime view of the solar eclipse.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — While 2024 will bring a total solar eclipse that will be visible in parts of Texas, the 2023 annular solar eclipse will pass directly over the Coastal Bend, giving Corpus Christi residents a prime view. 

On Oct. 14, the eclipse will cross North, Central, and South America, with the path of annularity going directly over West Texas, San Antonio and Corpus Christi. The best time for viewing the eclipse in Corpus Christi will be around noon, according to NASA.

Credit: NASA
NASA's map showing the path of the moon's shadow during the annular solar eclipse on Oct. 14, 2023, and total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024; zoomed in on Texas. (NASA/Scientific Visualization Studio/Michala Garrison; eclipse calculations by Ernie Wright, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)

In the above map, the path with blue circles shows the 2024 eclipse, while the path with yellow circles shows the 2023 eclipse. 

An annular solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth while it is at its farthest point from Earth, according to NASA. 

"Because the Moon is farther away from Earth, it appears smaller than the Sun and does not completely cover the star. This creates a “ring of fire” effect in the sky," NASA explained. 

Those who wish to view the eclipse will need to wear eye protection or use an indirect method of viewing such as a pinhole projector.

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