
As the world gears up for the last solar eclipse of 2024, Pakistan shall miss this cosmic view. The annular solar eclipse, commonly referred to as the "ring of fire" eclipse, shall occur on 2-3 October, primarily observable over parts of southern Chile and Argentina.
What is a solar eclipse?
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves between the Earth and the Sun, thereby blocking some or the entire light from the Sun. There are three major types of solar eclipses: partial, annular, and total.
Last solar eclipse of 2024
The second and last solar eclipse of 2024 will be on the night of 2-3 October. The eclipse will begin at 8:45pm local time and will be witnessed in parts of North and South America as well as Antarctica.
However, it will not be possible for the people of Pakistan to view this sight.
Annularity path of solar eclipse
The annularity track will be relatively short, crossing parts of certain southern parts of Chile and Argentina where about 175,000 people along this path.
Compared with the last solar eclipse in April 2024 of this year, the population within the path of totality in the US was much larger 32 million.
Some of the known observation sites are Perito Moreno National Park in Argentina, Puerto Deseado, and Puerto San Julián. Cochrane town in Chile also deserves to be mentioned.
A partial solar eclipse will take place during an annular event. This eclipse can be witnessed nearly 85 minutes before and after the ring of fire.
How to observe solar eclipse October 2024
Proper eye protection will be essential to safely view the annular solar eclipse since the Sun will never be fully covered.
Sunglasses will not suffice as the filters, for example, must be many times darker than eyeglass lenses.
As an alternative, observers can create a pinhole projector that allows them to view the eclipse safely, projecting an image of the Sun to be cast on a nearby surface.