PHOENIX — The annular solar eclipse will be gracing Arizona skies early Saturday morning.
Here's everything you need to enjoy the celestial show.
What is a solar eclipse?
An annular solar eclipse happens when the moon passes directly between the Earth and the sun, but doesn't completely cover the sun from our perspective. This casts a shadow on the Earth's surface, and people in the full shadow will see the sun as a bright ring or "annulus" around the moon.
The "ring of fire" eclipse happening on Saturday has inspired stories around the world for all of human history. The last time the U.S. saw a solar eclipse of this kind was in May 2012.
Check out these photos of the annular solar eclipse, as seen from Arizona on Oct. 14, 2023
What time is the annular solar eclipse in Arizona on Saturday?
If you want to get a good look at the rare "ring of fire" eclipse, you may need to get up early. The eclipse is predicted to start at 8:11 a.m., the peak will be around 9:32 a.m. and the eclipse will end around 11:02 a.m.
If you miss Saturday's viewing, your next chance to see it won't be until 2046.
Can you see the annular solar eclipse in Arizona?
The path of the eclipse crosses through the northeastern most parts of Arizona. What does that mean for the rest of State 48? Katrina Bossert, an assistant professor with the Arizona State University School of Earth and Space Exploration, said people in Phoenix won't see the full ring of fire, but will still catch a glimpse of the eclipse.
The best places to see the eclipse? San Antonio, Texas; Eugene, Oregon; and Albuquerque, New Mexico.
What's the weather look like on Saturday?
How can I safely view the eclipse?
To view the solar eclipse, regular sunglasses won’t do – you need solar eclipse viewing glasses. Don’t know where to find them? Check out your local public library, the Arizona Science Center and even big chain retailers like Lowe's, Wal-Mart, Home Depot and Amazon.
Scientists caution people to beware as they pick out their solar eclipse viewing glasses: not all glasses are made equal. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, you shouldn't be able to see anything through a safe solar filter except the sun – that's why solar glasses are different than sunglasses, they block out more light.
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