‘Ring of fire’ solar eclipse to dazzle US skies in 2 years
The ring-shaped eclipse will be visible in the United States within a roughly 125-mile-wide path before it passes into Mexico, Central America, and South America
![]()
Image 1 of 9A composite image of the total solar eclipse seen from the Lowell Observatory Solar Eclipse Experience August 21, 2017 in Madras, Oregon. (Stan Honda)
![]()
Image 2 of 9People watch the solar eclipse at Saluki Stadium on the campus of Southern Illinois University on August 21, 2017 in Carbondale, Illinois. Although much of it was covered by a cloud, with approximately 2 minutes 40 seconds of totality the area in Southern Illinois experienced the longest duration of totality during the eclipse. Millions of people are expected to watch as the eclipse cuts a path of totality 70 miles wide across the United States from Oregon to South Carolina on August 21. (Scott Olson)
![]()
Image 3 of 9In this NASA handout composite image, the progression of a partial solar eclipse August 21, 2017 over Ross Lake, in Northern Cascades National Park, Washington. (Bill Ingalls)
![]()
Image 4 of 9Convention goers step outside of the Marriott Resort and Spa at Grande Dunes to catch a glimpse of the solar eclipse August 21, 2017 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Myrtle Beach was supposed to see 99-percent coverage of the sun by the moon but heavy cloud cover prevented people from seeing the moment of most coverage. (Chip Somodevilla)
![]()
Image 5 of 9The totality stage of the Solar Eclipse over The United States on August 21, 2017 in Jefferson City, Missouri. (Brian Killian)
![]()
Image 6 of 9Friends from a nearby college watch the eclipse together on Menan Butte August 21, 2017 in Menan, Idaho. Millions of people have flocked to areas of the U.S. that are in the "path of totality" in order to experience a total solar eclipse. (Natalie Behring)
![]()
Image 7 of 9A woman reacts to seeing the solar eclipse along the waterfront near the Children's Museum in Boston, Aug. 21, 2017. (Keith Bedford)
![]()
Image 8 of 9The solar eclipse is seen behind the Statue of Liberty at Liberty Island in on August 21, 2017 in New York City. While New York was not in the path of totality for the solar eclipse, around 72 percent of the sun was covered by the moon during the peak time of the partial eclipse. (Noam Galai)
![]()
Image 9 of 9People watch the total solar eclipse in Charleston, South Carolina, on August 21, 2017. - The Sun started to vanish behind the Moon as the partial phase of the so-called Great American Eclipse began Monday, with millions of eager sky-gazers soon to witness "totality" across the nation for the first time in nearly a century. (Mandel Ngan)
REEDSPORT, Ore. -- If you missed the annular solar eclipse 11 years ago in the western United States, mark your calendar now.
On Oct. 14, 2023, the New Moon will move in front of the Sun, allowing spectators from Oregon to Texas to see a thin "ring of fire."
The ring-shaped eclipse will be visible within a roughly 125-mile-wide path before it passes into Mexico, Central America, and South America, the American Astronomical Society states. Anyone living in North American outside the path should see a partial solar eclipse if the weather cooperates.
(FOX Weather)
The event is known as "the ring of fire" because, during an annular eclipse, the moon is further away than during a total eclipse. This means the edge of the Sun peaks out around the moon, creating a glowing ring. During a total eclipse, the Sun is fully covered by the moon.
According to GreatAmericanEclipse.com, the annular solar eclipse first touches the United States at 9:13 a.m. Pacific time at Reedsport, Oregon, and lasts roughly 4 minutes and 29 seconds.
Once the event passes over the Four Corners region, prime viewing locations will be at a handful of national parks and national monuments.
It will then cross Texas around Midland, Odessa, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi and leaves the U.S. at Padre Island at 12:03 p.m. Central time.
(FOX Weather)
The maximum duration of annularity in Texas is 4 minutes and 53 seconds, according to GreatAmericanEclipse.com.
The last total solar eclipse in the U.S. was in 2017 during the Great American Eclipse. Totality was visible as the eclipse crossed the country, moving from Oregon to South Carolina.
In 2024, another total solar eclipse will happen in the U.S. This time the Sun will take the opposite path from Texas to the upper northeast part of the country. Both in 2017 and 2024, parts of the Midwest are along the path of totality.
It's always essential to wear protective glasses when viewing any eclipse. During an annular or partial eclipse, you'll need to wear solar eclipse glasses at all times. For a total solar eclipse, you can take the glasses off but only during totality.