Early morning skywatchers will be treated to a spectacular display. The first solar eclipse of the year will occur on Thursday, June 10, when the moon passes in front of the Sun. In some areas of the planet, the spectacle will be exceptionally stunning.

This eclipse will be a far cry from the 2017 Great American Eclipse, which transformed the day into night from Oregon to South Carolina, but it will still be a spectacular sight for those on its path.

Solar Eclipse

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, producing a shadow on the Earth and covering the Sun's light in some areas entirely or partially. According to NASA, during an annular eclipse, the moon is far enough away from the Earth to look smaller in the sky than the Sun. Because the moon does not entirely obscure the Sun's vision, it appears as a black disk in front of a bright, brilliant circle.

Ring of Fire

The approaching celestial arrangement will produce an annular solar eclipse, sometimes known as a "ring of fire" eclipse, since the moon will be slightly further away from the Earth than usual, preventing it from completely blocking out the Sun.

Visibility

During the eclipse's peak, a halo of sunlight will surround the moon, but this sight will only be seen from distant portions of northern Ontario, far northwestern Greenland, the North Pole, and eastern Russia.

A partial solar eclipse will be seen in other parts of the world.

 When the Sun, Moon, and Earth aren't perfectly aligned, the Sun casts a dark shadow just on a portion of its surface. As a result, the partial eclipse will be visible in the Southeast, Northeast, Midwest, and northern Alaska regions in the United States.

The eclipse will occur before, during, and shortly after dawn in many of these areas. To witness the eclipse, you'll need an unobstructed view of the horizon during dawn.

Related Article: Astronomical Events June 2021: Noctilucent Clouds, Ring of Fire Eclipse, 2021's Last Supermoon, and More!

How to See the Eclipse Safely

Even if the Sun's rays are partially or largely veiled, NASA warns that looking directly at them is dangerous.

To observe the eclipse safely, you'll need to use eclipse glasses (not conventional sunglasses) the entire time. If you don't have sun viewing or eclipse glasses, you can use a pinhole projector as an alternative indirect technique. Pinhole projectors should be used to project sunlight onto a surface rather than looking directly at the Sun.

Because looking at the Sun without a solar filter or eclipse glasses can cause irreversible eye damage, safety is the most important consideration when watching the eclipse.

Millions of people bought eclipse glasses for the 2017 total solar eclipse, and they may still be used for the coming eclipse if properly preserved.

Even if you don't have eclipse glasses, you may indirectly enjoy the show by looking at the Sun.

Future Solar Eclipses

Another solar eclipse will occur in early December this year. Still, it will only be visible throughout Antarctica, meaning that only a few people and penguins will be able to witness it.

This week's eclipse will be the last viewable from North America until Oct. 14, 2023, when another ring of fire eclipse will occur, this time across more populous portions of the United States, Central America, and northern South America.

Also Read: More Astrological Events to Look Forward to in the 2nd Quarter of 2021

For more Space news, don't forget to follow Nature World News!