Ring of Fire: Rare Eclipse will be able to be observed from Brazil in 2023; know when, where and how

Still in 2023, one of the most beautiful and rare astronomical phenomena that exist will occur. This is the annular eclipse, which can be seen in a partial or total way in several regions of the country on October 14th. The last record of the event was in 2021 in the Arctic.

Also called the “ring of fire”, the phenomenon occurs when the Sun, Moon and Earth line up. At that moment, only an outer part of the Sun can be seen, forming what appears to be a ring of light.

It is possible to observe this rare event from Earth during the day in different parts of the world, starting in North America. Some regions of Brazil will have more than three minutes of annular solar eclipse in 2023, such as Natal (RN).

If you were anxious about the astronomical event, remember that it is important to follow some safety precautions to avoid damage to your eyesight. Check here how to witness such an eclipse safely.

Annular solar eclipse in 2023 in Brazil

The first place to observe the annular eclipse of the Sun will be the United States. Afterwards, the data indicate that visibility will be possible in another nine countries:

• Mexico

• Belize

• Guatemala

• Honduras

• Nicaragua

• Costa Rica

• Panama

• Colombia

• Brazil

Here, the cities of Natal (RN) and João Pessoa (PB) are the best observation points. It is estimated that in Natal the annular eclipse will start at 3:29 pm and can be observed for 3 minutes and 10 seconds.

Residents of the North and Northeast will have the opportunity to fully witness the annular solar eclipse. In the rest of the Brazilian territory, the event can be seen partially from 3 pm in the Southeast, South and Midwest regions. In São Paulo, the best time will be at 4:49 pm.

(Image: Unsplash/Playback)

Tips and precautions when observing the 2023 solar eclipse

Despite being a unique and highly anticipated event, it is important to remember the safety recommendations, such as, for example, not looking directly at the Sun, due to damage to your eyesight.

Ideally, provide special observation glasses that filter out ultraviolet rays. However, you can also adopt other important precautions, indicated by the Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences of the University of São Paulo (USP), such as:

• Do not use improvised protections, such as smoked glasses, bottles with dark liquids and other equipment without adequate protection;

• The use of telescopesand binoculars are recommended as long as they are indicated by the manufacturer for solar and lunar eclipses;

• Use specific filters with shade above 14 to ensure eye protection.

Remember to use appropriate protections to observe the rare annular eclipse of the Sun, which, we reiterate, will take place on October 14, 2023.