Mark the date! Just one month until the next annular solar eclipse…

Mark your calendar. On Oct. 14th–one month from today–the Moon will pass in front of the sun, producing an annular solar eclipse visible from North and South America. In this map, the yellow band shows where the eclipse will be best:

This should not be confused with a total eclipse, where the Moon completely covers the sun. During an annular eclipse, the Moon is a little too small for complete coverage–a result of the Moon’s elliptical orbit. When the Moon passes in front of the sun, an annulus remains visible, creating a “ring of fire” in the sky. It is still very cool. Indeed, you will literally feel cool as the diffuse shadow of the Moon passes overhead, dimming the landscape and lowering the air temperature by a few degrees.