AND annular solar eclipse It could be seen from different corners of the world on October 14. While in the United States the event was seen 100% (as a ring of fire); In countries like Peru, this could only be partially appreciated. But what does a solar eclipse look like from outer planet Earth? If you had that question, NASA just answered it with an image they recently released.
Below we tell you all the details about this incredible space photo of one of the most anticipated astronomical phenomena of 2023.
Solar eclipse from space
An image of the eclipse from outside the planet was captured by a satellite DSCOVR from NASA (short for Deep Space Climate Observatory).
This probe is located at Lagrange Point 1, at the junction between the Sun and Earth, 1.5 million kilometers from the planet, and its position is ideal for observing the Sun. Polychromatic ground imaging camera (EPIC), which is often used to record global views of the planet.
In the image, you can see the North American lands in darkness due to the immense shadow of the moon that is cast on the surface. The central part of the shadow is darker than its edges because it corresponds to the umbra and penumbra of the satellite.
The areas where people could observe the “ring of fire” in its entirety are those present darker spots In the photo.
The photo shared by NASA was taken by the DSCOVR mission. Photo: NASA
Why do annular solar eclipses occur?
An annular solar eclipse, also known as a “ring of fire,” occurs when the Sun, Moon, and Earth align in the same plane.
Unlike a total solar eclipse, for this occasion the satellite is in its furthest orbit from the planet, so the edges of the sun’s disk around it glow.
An annular solar eclipse only occurs when the Moon is in a new phase. Photo: Planetarium Chile
What does a ring of fire look like?
An annular solar eclipse or ring of fire looks like a dark silhouette with a bright ring around it. The phenomenon, which lasts only a few minutes, can only be observed using special dark glasses.
The latest phenomenon of this type was visible in cities located in the narrow and elongated belt of the Americas, which included cities in the USA, Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia and Brazil.
Photos of the last annular solar eclipse from the United States. Photo: Anadolu Agency
