Safely View the Annular Eclipse on October 14 

On Saturday, October 14, skies will darken as parts of Central Texas are in the path of an annular solar eclipse. The eclipse will have a 125-mile path and travel over North, Central, and South America. Austin is just outside the path to see the full ring of fire but will still have nearly 90% of the sun obscured by the moon. According to the National Weather Service, the eclipse will begin at 10:24 a.m. in the Austin area and end at 1:32 p.m. with the maximum obscuration at 11:54 a.m. 

An annular eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and sun while at its furthest point of orbit from Earth. The annular eclipse is called a “ring of fire” because of the glowing red circle that will appear from the sun behind the moon, and this event will not occur again until 2046. 

Eclipse Safety Reminders 

Wear proper eye protection. To safely look directly at the sun during an eclipse wear certified eclipse glasses or use a handheld solar viewer or pinhole projector. Many stores and retailers are selling eclipse glasses for those who want to witness the event. Be sure to verify eclipse glasses are certified ISO 12312-2 compliant. 

Do not look at the sun through a camera lens, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while wearing eclipse glasses or using a handheld solar viewer — the concentrated solar rays will burn through the filter and can cause serious eye injury. Only use a telescope, binoculars, or camera if these devices have a special solar filter. 

If traveling during the eclipse remember to prepare for heavy traffic by leaving early for your destination. Park only in safe, designated areas and not on road shoulders, medians or tall grass. Parking on grass in dry conditions can lead to increased wildfire risk. Be sure to also find a safe place to park before the eclipse begins.

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