Annenberg Radio News

Partial solar eclipse set for California

For Southern California, residents will see part of the annular eclipse.

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An annular solar eclipse, in which the moon does not completely cover the sun, will create a "ring of fire" effect Oct. 14. Southern Californians will see a less dramatic, partial view of the eclipse. (Rehman Abubakr/Wikimedia Commons)

A partial solar eclipse - the so-called “Ring of Fire” in the sky - is headed for California, and we’re not talking about Johnny Cash.

The eclipse is set to travel across the country on October 14.

A Ring of Fire is an Annular Eclipse - “Annular” meaning the Moon is too far away from the Earth to completely block the sun, so a ring of light remains visible around the Moon’s edge. And this creates a burning effect that will bathe the sky in a crimson light.

The phenomenon will be the most dramatic for Northern California, but we here in So-Cal should still receive a partial view of the spectacle. NASA recommends you use special “Eclipse Glasses” to protect your eyes against harmful U-V light from the sun.

What is it about an Eclipse that captures the imagination? Even The Simpsons had a look!

Not really! In fact, the next one will be a long time away. The next total eclipse probably won’t occur over America until at least 2044.