Millions of people across the Americas were treated to a spectacular show on Saturday as a rare “ring of fire” eclipse of the Sun took place. The event began with darkening skies, followed by crescent-shaped shadows on the ground, and ended with crowds erupting in cheers along the narrow path where the eclipse was visible.
In the Caribbean resort city of Cancún, hundreds of people flocked to the planetarium to witness the eclipse. Some used box projectors, while others utilized telescopes and special glasses. Excited children whistled in amazement, while some adults raised their arms as if to welcome the celestial event.
Outside the planetarium, vendors selling plants had a unique perspective of the dance between the Moon and the Sun. They observed the shifting sunlight filtering through the leaves, casting intriguing shadows on the sidewalk. Carmen Jardines, a 56-year-old vendor, described the scene, saying, “There was silence and like a mist, as if it was dusk, but only a few minutes later the birds were singing again.”
Artemia Carreto took the opportunity to share her childhood experience of witnessing an eclipse in southern Mexico. She recounted how they were told to look at the river where the eclipse beautifully reflected on the sand beneath the water. Although she wasn’t near a river this time, Carreto still felt the sensations induced by the changing temperatures and a feeling of heaviness, which she attributed to the Earth’s rotation.
The eclipse, known as an annular solar eclipse, was not a total eclipse where the Moon completely covers the Sun. Instead, it resulted in a bright, blazing border around the Moon as it lined up between Earth and the Sun. The entire eclipse lasted between 2 1/2 to three hours at any given spot, with the “ring of fire” portion lasting three to five minutes, depending on the location.
The eclipse’s path spanned from Oregon, Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico in the U.S., with a portion of California, Arizona, and Colorado also experiencing the phenomenon. It then continued through Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Brazil. The rest of the Western Hemisphere witnessed a partial eclipse. NASA and other groups livestreamed the event to allow widespread participation.
In the U.S., some eclipse enthusiasts traveled to remote corners of the country to get the best view possible. In Albuquerque, the eclipse coincided with an international balloon fiesta, adding an extra layer of excitement. As the Moon began to cover the Sun, balloon pilots used their propane burners to shoot flames upward in unison, creating a breathtaking spectacle.
At Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah, avid viewers hiked the trails before sunrise to secure their preferred vantage points among the iconic red rock hoodoos. When the “ring of fire” formed, cheers echoed through the canyons, amplifying the already awe-inspiring atmosphere. John Edwards, a cancer drug developer who traveled alone to witness the eclipse, expressed the unity an event like this brings, saying, “I just think it’s one of those things that unites us all.”
For the small towns and cities along the eclipse’s path, there was a mixture of excitement, worries about the weather, and concerns about managing the influx of visitors. In Eugene, Oregon, observers experienced intermittent visibility as the Sun’s light appeared and disappeared through cloud cover. Despite this, the event still drew oohs and ahs mixed with groans of disappointment.
In southern Colombia’s Tatacoa desert, astronomers assisted a group of visually impaired people in experiencing the eclipse through raised maps and temperature changes. The perfectly formed golden ring created by the Moon and Sun was beautifully captured through this tactile approach. Colombia’s Science Minister, Yesenia Olaya, emphasized the importance of events like this in inspiring children to pursue an interest in science.
Juan Pablo Esguerra, a 13-year-old attendee, had been eagerly awaiting this trip to the desert with his father. Describing his love for astronomy, he said, “I like the astronomy because it’s a spectacular experience. This is the best that I’ve seen in my life.”
In Mexico City, thousands of people gathered at the main esplanade of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, dressed as astronauts and armed with special glasses. They shared the experience of observing the eclipse and had the opportunity to use telescopes set up by the university.
The eclipse marked a significant event for Brazil, as it was the country’s first since 1994. Thousands of people flocked to parks and beaches in the north and northeast regions to witness the phenomenon, while the country’s national observatory broadcast the event online.
Looking ahead, the next annular solar eclipse will occur in October of the following year at the southernmost tip of South America. Antarctica will also witness an eclipse in 2026. It will be 2039 before another “ring of fire” eclipse is visible in the U.S., with Alaska being the only state in its direct path. The anticipation for future celestial events continues to captivate both enthusiasts and casual observers alike.
