Annular Solar Eclipse 2024 Thrills Sky Watchers Across South America (Videos, Photos)

On Wednesday (October 2), a lucky handful of skywatchers watched the sun transform into a stunning “ring of fire” in the sky.

This was the result of an annular solar eclipse that swept across the Pacific Ocean, encompassing Hawaii, southern Chile and southern Argentina. The “Ring of Fire” then reached the Atlantic Ocean, where it disappeared from view.

While the annular eclipse begins and ends far from land, an estimated 175,000 people, about 0.002% of the world's population, live in the path of the eclipse, which provides a full view of the “Ring of Fire.”

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The Moon crosses in front of the Sun during the annular solar eclipse in Puerto San Julian, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina, on October 2, 2024.(Image credit: Juan Mabromata / AFPGetty Images)

One of the most sought-after locations for the eclipse was remote Easter Island, or Rapa Nui as it is known by residents, where crowds of sky watchers from around the world gathered to watch the celestial event. Even the looming clouds couldn't dampen her excitement.

“Well, that was incredible. The tension! A cloud left the sun just 10 seconds before the Baily's Beads appeared, and another appeared a minute after the ring ended. We were SO lucky!” Eclipse tracker Jamie Carter, a U.K.-based science journalist and editor of WhenIsTheNextEclipse.com, told Space.com (where he occasionally contributes) in an update from Easter Island. “It felt incredible to actually see the ring, even though I knew my chance wasn't greater than 50-50. It was so cold in the minutes before the ring formed.”

Eclipse Jamie Carter

A view of the annular solar eclipse observation site on Easter Island by eclipse tracker Jamie Carter on October 2, 2024. (Image credit: Jamie Carter)

Also on Easter Island was Josh Drury, a fellow UK-based astrophotographer, who made the eclipse chase a family affair. His mother accompanied him on the trip.

“A lifelong dream is almost fulfilled,” Drury said in a video update. “An annular solar eclipse, the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” from here at Rapa Nui.”

Drury observed the eclipse from Easter Island's famous Maoi statues and said it would be another 312 years before the island would experience another celestial event like this.

“I am overwhelmed to witness this eclipse with Martín Tuki, our guide and descendant of the island, and my mother,” said Drury. “That’s a wrap for 312 years.”

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Ring eclipse on Easter Island — Astrophotographer Josh Drury (right), his mother and their guide Martín Tuki on Easter Island between the Moai statues during the solar eclipse on October 2, 2024. (Image credit: Josh Dury)

Carter said the entire experience was unforgettable.

“I guess the most dramatic two moments are when the horned sickle turns into a ring and when it disappears, but the almost six minutes in between were magical,” he said. “I wanted to view the ring through eclipse glasses, but I also focused on seeing and photographing a projection of the ring through the holes of a spaghetti spoon. Astonishing! It is one of the few images of a solar eclipse that I have yet to take.”

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Eclipse hunters enjoy the annular solar eclipse from Easter Island. — A view of the annular solar eclipse of October 2, 2024, as seen through a sieve scoop by eclipse chaser Jamie Carter on Easter Island.(Image credit: Jamie Carter)

Over 240 million people outside the orbit of the ring body could see at least part of the sun that was obscured by the dark disk of the moon. Those unable to attend the event in person were able to enjoy the eclipse action with our eclipse live blog and livestream, courtesy of timeanddate.com.

This annular solar eclipse may not have been quite as striking as the total solar eclipse that swept across the continental United States on April 8, 2024, but that didn't stop eclipse watchers from capturing some stunning videos and photos of this celestial event.

A close-up of South America showing the path of the annular solar eclipse.

A map of the annular solar eclipse across South America on October 2, 2024. (Image credit: Michael Zeiler GreatAmericanEclipse.com)

Annular solar eclipses differ from total solar eclipses in that the Moon's orbit around Earth is not a perfect circle and it continues to move further and further away from our planet. This means that sometimes when it passes through the Sun and Earth, it is closer to our planet than at other times.

When the moon is closer to the Earth and further from the sun, the moon's disk is not large enough to completely obscure the sun's disk, as is the case in a total solar eclipse. The result is a golden ring of fire around the dark disk of the moon. When the Moon's obscuring disk is completely surrounded by the Sun's disk, it is called an antumbra, and observers experience a “ring of fire” that represents an annular solar eclipse.

On Wednesday, October 2, the annular solar eclipse began at 11:15 a.m. EDT (1542 GMT) over the Pacific Ocean. Regions of the world where ring formation subsequently occurred included Easter Island, Cochrane in Chile and Perito Moreno National Park, Puerto Deseado and Puerto San Julian in Argentina.

Partial solar eclipse

During the annular solar eclipse, the sun is increasingly obscured by the moon

The sun, sunspots and all, partially eclipsed by the moon during the annular solar eclipse on October 2, 2024. (Image credit: Jamie Carter)

Because the Moon is so close to the Earth, at least compared to the Sun, its position in the sky varies depending on where an observer is on Earth. That means sky watchers on either side of the ring didn't see a full Ring of Fire, but could still catch a glimpse of a partial solar eclipse.

In Chile, sky watchers in Punta Arenas could see that the sun's disk was 75% obscured by the moon, while observers in Villarrica saw that it was 62% obscured. Eclipse watchers in Argentina saw the sun eclipsed by 72% in Ushuaia and 42% obscured in Buenos Aires. Off the coast of Argentina, observers on the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic saw that 84% of the sun's disk was covered by the lunar surface.

Meanwhile, observers in São Paulo, Brazil, would have seen only 10% of the sun's disk covered by the moon, making it appear as if the sun had taken a massive bite out of it.

Next solar eclipses

If you missed the annular solar eclipse on October 2nd and the amazing images captured above have whetted your appetite, you won't have to wait much longer for the next solar eclipse.

On March 29, 2025, a partial solar eclipse will sweep across northwest Africa, parts of Europe and northern Russia. Later this year, another partial solar eclipse will be visible from parts of the South Pacific, New Zealand and Antarctica on September 21st.

If it's an annular solar eclipse you're dying to watch, you'll have to wait a little longer as the next “Ring of Fire” appears over southern Argentina, Chile, South Africa and Antarctica on February 17, 2026.

The next total solar eclipse will occur on August 12, 2026 and will be visible from North America, West Africa and Europe.

If you plan on witnessing one of these solar eclipses, remember that looking at the sun is harmful to your eyes, and it is NEVER It is safe to look directly at the sun without the need for solar eclipse glasses to view the sun. Read our guide to observing the sun safely.

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