This week the moon moves in front of the sun, but we Dutch are unlucky

Next Saturday the time has finally come. After that, the annular solar eclipse will be visible in the United States, Mexico and South America. The moon, which is seen from the surface of the Earth, is slightly smaller than the sun, which means that the sun is not completely dark. There will be a visible “ring of fire”.

An annular solar eclipse occurs on average once a year. The last annular eclipses occurred on June 10, 2021, June 21, 2020, and December 26, 2019.

This week’s satellite image was taken by Stefan Siep. This image shows what the Sun looks like through a telescope during the peak of the eclipse. Naturally, a filter is used here, allowing small bursts to be seen around the solar disk. If you want to experience the solar eclipse for yourself, we recommend using eclipse glasses.

Why is there an annular (and not total) eclipse?

This has to do with the distance from the Earth to the Moon. The Sun is on average 400 times farther from Earth than the Moon, but this makes our natural satellite and parent star appear about the same size from Earth’s surface. The distance from Earth to the Moon varies. On October 14, the distance is greater than average – just under 400,000 km – and this makes the Moon appear a little smaller.

Where can an annular solar eclipse be seen?

Would you like to see the annular eclipse with your own eyes? Book a ticket to the United States. The annular eclipse can be seen in major cities like San Antonio and Albuquerque, among others. But it might be better to wait a year. A total solar eclipse will be visible in 2024, and it’s always a little more spectacular than an annular eclipse, especially since the corona (solar atmosphere) can be seen during a total eclipse.

When can the next total solar eclipse be seen in the Netherlands?

Unfortunately, you (most likely) won’t experience that, because the next total solar eclipse won’t happen until 2135. But… On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse will be visible in northern Spain. An interesting destination for a summer vacation.