NEW YORK (WBEN) — A “ring of fire” solar eclipse darkened the skies in the Northern Hemisphere on Thursday morning.
The moon partially blocked out the sun in the first of two solar eclipses this year.
Joe Rao, of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City’s American Museum of Natural History, says the event occurred at sunrise.
“We have had eclipses of the sun before. This one, however, is unique. First of all, we're going to have about four-fifths of the sun's diameter covered. The peak of the eclipse is going to happen shortly after sunrise. Over the last 150 years, this is only happened twice before. So, this is going to be a rather interesting and unique event so far as solar eclipses,” he says.
When the moon crosses paths with the sun, it will appear smaller, leaving room for light to glow around a dark circle – creating the “ring of fire.”
“You're not going to see a big red ball. You're going to see something looks like a slice of cantaloupe melon,” he said. “Or maybe a horseshoe with pointed tips, as [the sun] comes up above the east/northeast horizon.”
According to NASA, those living in the Southeast, Northeast and Midwestern parts of the United States – and some parts of Alaska – will be able to see a partial eclipse.
Viewers a bit further north in Canada, Greenland and parts of Russia will be able to see the full eclipse, according to the agency.
If you’re unable to view it in person, or if you’re in an area where you won’t be able to see it, NASA will be streaming the event, beginning at 5 a.m.