Ring of fire eclipse to captivate skywatchers in South America and the Pacific on October 2

A "ring of fire" annular eclipse will occur on October 2, 2024, visible in Argentina and Chile at 18:46 UTC. Other regions in South America, the Pacific, and Antarctica will see a partial eclipse. Unlike total eclipses, where the Moon completely covers the Sun, an annular eclipse allows the Sun's outer ring to remain visible, creating a bright ring effect. This phenomenon happens when the Moon is at its farthest point from Earth. Eclipses are rare due to the tilted orbits of the Earth and Moon. Their unpredictable frequency results in clusters of eclipses occurring at different times. The current alignment allows for both total and annular eclipses, a situation that will change as the Moon continues to drift away from Earth.