Ring of Fire: Annular eclipse of the sun Sunday, May 20

Ring of Fire: annular eclipse of the sun begins at 6:33 p.m. in Arizona

by Jenny Caster

There will be an annular eclipse of the sun in the late afternoon on Sunday, May 20.  The next one visible in the United States will not occur until 2023.  In an annular eclipse, the moon blocks out the sun but is too far away to block the sun completely.  The outer edge or annulus, known as a ring of fire, will shine brightly.  Although most of the sunlight will be blocked during the eclipse, special solar eye protection must be worn while viewing the sun.  The eclipse will last a total of less than five minutes, beginning in Arizona at 6:33 p.m. and ending at 6:37 p.m.  For more information, visit the Web site: http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov.