Don’t Miss the Ring of Fire Eclipse in Mexico on October 2nd

As the year draws to a close, there are still some exciting astronomical events to look forward to. This year has already presented us with some remarkable spectacles, such as the total solar eclipse visible across much of Mexico on April 8th. While a similar event won't occur for a long time, there are other fascinating phenomena to enjoy, like the upcoming annular solar eclipse on October 2nd. This event is also known as the Ring of Fire Eclipse due to the ring of light that forms around the moon.

However, it's important to note that while the eclipse's shadow will cover some parts of Mexico, it will only be a partial eclipse. The countries that will witness the full eclipse are Chile and Argentina. Some areas of Mexico will fall within the Earth's shadow caused by the eclipse, but these will be some of the last areas to experience the "darkening", resulting in a low visibility percentage of the event. It's estimated that visibility will reach a maximum of between 10% and 11% in some areas, with other areas having even lower visibility.

Other countries that won't witness the full eclipse but will have a visibility rate of between 50% and 90% include Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru, Ecuador, Uruguay, and the Malvinas Islands. Despite the low visibility in Mexico, there are some tips to enhance your viewing experience. Check the weather and find a clear spot to watch from. If you have a telescope, use it to help with the partial visibility. If you plan to observe the eclipse with the naked eye, always protect your eyes with special glasses or a welder's filter No. 14.

In Mexico, the visibility percentage will be very low, so you may only notice subtle changes in the moon or the sun's intensity. The best regions in Mexico to observe this event are Baja California, Baja California Sur, Colima, and Jalisco, specifically in the cities of La Paz, Los Cabos, San José del Cabo, and Manzanillo.

Here are the start, peak, and end times of the event in these cities:

• Cabo San Lucas: Start time 9:48, Peak time: 10:11, End time: 10:36
• San José del Cabo: Start time: 9:51, Peak time: 10:11, End time: 10:32
• La Paz: Start time: 9:56, Peak time: 10:10, End time: 10:23
• Manzanillo: Start time: 11:17, Peak time: 11:24, End time: 11:30

Despite the low visibility, you can still observe the phenomenon in an online broadcast or use a specialized device like a telescope if you have one.