Rare Solar Eclipse Goes Down Tonight


By: / May 20, 2012

Look up in the sky. If you’ve never peeped a solar eclipse in your lifetime, then today may be your lucky day.

Later tonight (May 20), some states in the U.S. will be able to see what appears like a ring of fire around the moon, but it’s actually the annular solar eclipse, which is when the sun appears to form a thin circle around the moon.

Since the moon doesn’t block the sun entirely during the phenomenon, NASA states, a ring of light from our shining sun peeks out at the edges.

“I recommend anyone who has the chance to see this, because while they do happen occasionally, it’s a fairly rare event,” says Jeffrey Newmark, a solar physics specialist with NASA. “It’s a neat thing to see.”

Those hoping to catch the eclipse are advised to wear special protective eye equipment to prevent damage.

Americans who live east of the Mississippi sadly won’t catch it, but the eclipse will be observable in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, California and Oregon.

In L.A., it should be detectible from around 5:25p.m to 6:38 p.m. Happy viewing.