How to Watch October's Annular Solar Eclipse, Including Where to See it

The upcoming annular solar eclipse will take place on Oct. 2

The last solar eclipse of 2024 is officially coming up and will bring a spectacular view of the sun!

The solar eclipse — which will be visible on Oct. 2 — will be an annular eclipse, which doesn't fully cover the sun like a total solar eclipse.

According to NASA, an annular solar eclipse occurs when "the moon passes between the sun and Earth while it is at its farthest point from Earth." The moon will appear smaller since it will be further away from Earth than usual and will not completely cover the sun. This phenomenon is what causes the "ring of fire" appearance in the sky.

While this solar eclipse will bring incredible views in the sky, what does it mean astrologically? Astrologer Kyle Thomas tells PEOPLE that eclipses typically bring "intense changes" the weeks before and after the cosmic phenomenon.

Related: Here's What the Annular Solar Eclipse Means for Your Zodiac Sign

"[Eclipses] blast open a door to us as we embrace new opportunities, projects, plans and horizons," Thomas says. "Most people receive news of a solar eclipse on the day it occurs, but others may instead notice the shift in the weeks that surround it."

Here's everything to know about the upcoming annular solar eclipse, including when and where to see it in the sky.

When is the 2024 annular eclipse?

The annular solar eclipse will take place on Oct. 2. This will be the last solar eclipse phenomenon to take place in 2024. The first total solar eclipse took place earlier this year on April 8.

Where will the annular solar eclipse be visible?

According to NASA, the path of annularity will run through parts of Argentina and Chile. Meanwhile, the partial solar eclipse will be visible in other parts of South America, Antarctica, North America, the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.

What time does the annular solar eclipse start?

According to Timeandate.com, the annular solar eclipse will take place at 3:57 p.m. local time In Argentina and at 12:23 p.m. local time in Chile. The eclipse will peak at around 3:45 p.m. local time in both locations before ending at around 6:45 p.m. local time.

For those viewing the partial eclipse, the eclipse will begin at around 11:43 p.m. EDT.

How do you watch the annular solar eclipse?

Like any eclipse, it is not safe to look directly at the sun without wearing the proper eye protection.

According to NASA, "you must look through safe solar viewing glasses ('eclipse glasses') or a safe handheld solar viewer at all times" to prevent eye injury. NASA also emphasizes that eclipse glasses are not the same as regular sunglasses and that "regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe for viewing the sun."

Viewers also shouldn't 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" since that can also damage these device's filters.

Related: What Happens If You Look at a Solar Eclipse Without Glasses?

If you're not able to find eclipse glasses or a solar viewer, NASA recommends using an indirect method - like the pinhole projection method - to view the eclipse safely.

When is the next solar eclipse?

The next partial solar eclipse will take place on March 29, 2025, and will be visible in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, the Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean.

If you're hoping to catch another annular or total solar eclipse, you will have to wait until 2026. NASA reports that the next annular solar eclipse will be visible over Antarctica on Feb. 17, 2026, while a total solar eclipse will be visible over Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia and parts of Portugal on Aug. 12, 2026.

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