Last ‘Ring Of Fire’ Eclipse Until 2039 Saturday: How To See It In VA

VIRGINIA — We don’t have a front-row seat to see the full effects of the “ring of fire” annular solar eclipse in Virginia, but it’s still worth setting aside time to take it all in.

In Alexandria, the partial annular eclipse begins at 12:00:09 EDT and mid-eclipse should be reached at 13:19:09 EDT.

In Fredericksburg, the partial eclipse will start at 11:59:01 EDT and mid-eclipse happens at 1:19:03 p.m. EDT.

Even if it’s cloudy, the eerie daytime darkness associated with solar eclipses is still noticeable, according to NASA. The National Weather Service is calling for clouds and rain in Virginia on Saturday.

And remember, you’ll need solar eclipse glasses to view either the partial eclipse or the ring of fire.

An annular solar eclipse occurs as the moon lines up precisely between Earth and the sun, blotting out all but the sun’s outer rim. The eclipse will be a celestial showstopper for tens of millions in a 125-mile wide path stretching from Oregon to Texas into Central and South America who will see the bright, blazing border, or ring of fire, around the moon for as long as five minutes.

Here in Virginia, we’ll get a less dramatic, but still enthralling view as the moon appears to take a “bite” out of the sun. That’ll happen between 11:59 a.m. and 1:19 p.m.

Fairfax County is hosting a pair of events to mark the occasion. Celebrations will be held at Burke Lake Park, the Sully Historic Site, and Historic Huntley in Alexandria.

The crescent-shaped partial eclipse will be visible in every U.S. state, although just barely in Hawaii, provided the skies are clear. The closer to the ring of fire path, the bigger the bite the moon will appear to take out of the sun.

The entire eclipse — from the moment the moon starts to obscure the sun until it’s back to normal — will last anywhere from 2 1/2 to three hours at any given spot. The ring of fire portion lasts from three to five minutes, depending on location.

Again, be sure to use safe, certified solar eclipse glasses throughout the eclipse. Sunglasses won’t cut it. If you don’t have glasses, you can look indirectly with a pinhole projector that you can make yourself, including one made with a cereal box.

And if you want to take photos, cameras — including those on cellphones — binoculars, or telescopes need special solar filters mounted at the front end.

It will be 2039 before another ring of fire is visible in the United States, and Alaska will be the only state then in the path of totality. And it will be 2046 before another ring of fire crosses into the U.S. Lower 48. That doesn't mean they won't be happening elsewhere: The southernmost tip of South America will get one next October, and Antarctica in 2026.

Saturday’s annular eclipse is a prelude to the 2024 total solar eclipse on April 8. About 32 million people live in the path of 100 percent totality that includes portions of Texas, Oklahoma, Maine, Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont and New Hampshire.

NASA and others plan a slew of observations during both eclipses, with rockets and hundreds of balloons soaring.

“It’s going to be absolutely breathtaking for science,” NASA astrophysicist Madhulika Guhathakurta told The Associated Press.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.