The second and final solar eclipse of 2024 will occur on the night of October 2-3, but it won’t be visible from Pakistan, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD). The eclipse is set to begin at 8:45 p.m. local time.
This solar phenomenon will be visible in parts of North and South America, as well as Antarctica, leaving residents of Pakistan unable to witness it. It follows the solar eclipse in April, which brought totality to 11 states across the United States.
According to Space.com, the annular eclipse’s path will be narrow, passing through specific southern regions of Chile and Argentina, with an estimated 175,000 people within the viewing area. By comparison, the April eclipse covered a larger population of 32 million in the U.S.
A partial solar eclipse will occur 85 minutes before and after the main event, viewable across regions of South America, Antarctica, North America, and parts of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, including Hawaii. Major cities for observing the partial eclipse include Buenos Aires, São Paulo, and Asunción.
For safe viewing of the annular eclipse, proper eye protection is crucial, as the sun remains partially visible. Standard sunglasses are not safe; specialized solar viewers or filters should be used. Alternatively, a pinhole projector can allow safe observation by projecting the sun’s image onto a surface.
An annular solar eclipse occurs when the moon moves directly in front of the sun but is farther from Earth, leaving most of the sun covered except for a glowing ring around the edges, known as the “ring of fire.”
