Gear for Safely Viewing the Solar Eclipse

The first, on October 14, 2023, will be an annular eclipse. The moon will pass in front of the sun, but it won’t completely eclipse it, leaving only a thin rim of sun exposed—a phenomenon that has earned this type of eclipse the nickname “Ring of Fire.” The October eclipse will sweep in a path from Oregon to Texas and on over to Mexico.

The second eclipse will take place only a few months later, on April 8, 2024. This time, it will be a total solar eclipse, visible in a path that sweeps up through Mexico and then from Texas to Maine. During totality, the moon will block the sun completely for 4½ minutes, turning daylight into deep twilight.