On October 2, one of nature's most spectacular phenomena occurs: an annular eclipse, popularly known as the “Ring of Fire” eclipse, which can be seen along an east-west oriented path at the southern tip of South America, crossing Chile and Argentina. Unlike a total solar eclipse, the Moon's shadow stops just short of the Earth's surface, leaving a thin band of the Sun's blinding photosphere surrounding the Moon's silhouette.
The eclipse will take place between 15:43 and 21:47 UT, with the maximum duration of the annular eclipse being seven minutes and 25 seconds. On the west coast of Chile, an annular eclipse lasting more than 6 minutes will occur at approximately 17:23 local time.
A partial eclipse of decreasing magnitude can be seen northward across South America, with the northern extent of visibility passing just north of Lima, Chile, and in Brazil between Sao Paulo, where an eclipse is observed, and Salvador, north of the line. South of the central path, partial phases extend toward Antarctica.
In Buenos Aires, Argentina, a partial eclipse is observed, with 53.3% of the Sun's diameter (eclipse magnitude) obscured by the Sun at 17:37 local time. The Sun sets before the end of the eclipse. In Sao Paulo, Brazil, the Sun is only 15° high at the beginning of the partial eclipse (20.3%) at 16:57. In Santiago, Chile, the situation is better, with the entire eclipse visible and 54.9% of the Sun obscured at maximum eclipse at 16:25.
