We could see one of the most spectacular solar eclipses visible in a long time this week, with the moon blocking the sun in an event known as a "ring of fire."
The solar eclipse will take place on Thursday, May 9 and Friday, May 10. It will be visible in parts of Australia and the South Pacific.
"Solar eclipses can be inspirational to students and others, so it is interesting to have everyone view the eclipse, but only safe methods of viewing should be used," Jay Pasachoff, an astronomer at Williams College and chair of the International Astronomical Union's working group on eclipses, said in a statement.
Solar eclipses, or annular eclipses, occur when the moon covers a large portion of the sun but does not cover the sun completely, as is the case with total eclipses. The "ring of fire" refers to the portion of the sun outlining the moon, which covers almost all of the sun as seen from our perspective.
Very few will have a chance to see the ring of fire this week, but more will have a chance to see a partial eclipse, including those in all of Australia, Hawaii, Papua New Guinea and much of the Philippines, Indonesia and New Zealand.
However, anyone with Internet access can view the ring of fire, thanks to the Slooh Space Camera, which will be airing a webcast with expert commentary and views of the solar eclipse on Thursday, May 9 at 5:30 p.m. EDT. You can head over to SPACE.com to check out the live broadcast.
For those viewing the solar eclipse directly, it is always advised not to look at the sun without proper protection.
