How To See The “Ring Of Fire” Solar Eclipse In MA
The annular eclipse will measure 73 percent in greater Boston, but you'll have to get up early on June 10 to see it.
Photo ©Manop Jankan/123rf.com
By Dave Copeland, Patch.com
Weather permitting, early birds will be in for a visual treat on June 10 when an annular eclipse will be viewable in greater Boston.
Unlike a total solar eclipse, portions of the sun are still visible as the moon passes between the sun and Earth. That’s where it gets its “ring of fire” solar eclipse nickname.
The current, seven-day forecast calls for mostly sunny skies on the morning of the eclipse. The eclipse will start at 4:38 a.m. on June 10, a full 29 minutes before sunrise. The eclipse will peak at 5:33 a.m. and end at 6:32 a.m. At its peak, 73 percent of the sun will be blocked in greater Boston.
Annular eclipses occur when the moon is in its first lunar phase and farther away from Earth. That makes the moon appear smaller, giving the ring of fire effect. In a total eclipse, the moon is closer to Earth.
The best viewing spots for the June 10 eclipse will be further north in parts of eastern Canada and Greenland, as well as Northern Europe and Asia. In those places, the sun will be almost completely blocked, and the peak of the eclipse will last a full four minutes.
Dave Copeland is a staff writer for Patch.com.
