What's happened
On October 2, 2024, an annular solar eclipse occurred, visible primarily over Easter Island, Argentina, and Chile. The event featured a 'ring of fire' effect as the moon obscured most of the sun, while a partial eclipse was visible in a broader region, including Brazil and Hawaii.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Independent, the annular solar eclipse was visible over Easter Island and parts of Argentina and Chile, with a partial eclipse seen in a wider area including Brazil and Hawaii. The New York Times noted that annular eclipses occur every one to two years and can attract large crowds, emphasizing the importance of safety measures when viewing such events. The Guardian highlighted that only specific regions experienced the full effect of the eclipse, while others could only see a partial view. This contrast illustrates the varying experiences of observers depending on their location.
How we got here
Solar eclipses happen when the sun, moon, and Earth align. The annular eclipse occurs when the moon is farther from Earth, appearing smaller than the sun, thus creating a ring-shaped sliver of sunlight. This event is part of a series of solar eclipses occurring throughout the year.
More on these topics
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Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country located mostly in the southern half of South America. Sharing the bulk of the Southern Cone with Chile to the west, the country is also bordered by Bolivia and Paraguay to the north, Brazil to the
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Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in western South America. It occupies a long, narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west.
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Hawaii is a state of the United States of America located in the Pacific Ocean. It is the only U.S. state located outside North America, the only island state, and the only state in the tropics.
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Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At 8.5 million square kilometers and with over 211 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area and the sixth most
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Easter Island is an island and special territory of Chile in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, at the southeasternmost point of the Polynesian Triangle in Oceania.
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Uruguay, officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, is a country in the southeastern region of South America. It borders Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and east, with the Río de la Plata to the south and the Atlantic Ocean
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Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea
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Fiji, officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean about 1,100 nautical miles northeast of New Zealand's North Island.
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New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It comprises two main landmasses—the North Island and the South Island —and around 600 smaller islands, covering a total area of 268,021 square kilometres.
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A solar eclipse occurs when a portion of the Earth is engulfed in a shadow cast by the Moon which fully or partially blocks sunlight. This occurs when the Sun, Moon and Earth are aligned. Such alignment coincides with a new moon indicating the Moon is clo