Mark your calendars for Oct. 14! Thatâs when the path of a rare annular solar eclipse will pass through San Antonio and the Hill Country.
KEY POINTS:
- An annular solar eclipse is when the moon passes in front of the sun, creating a âring of fireâ in the sky
- The path of an annular solar eclipse will move through San Antonio & the Hill Country on Saturday morning, Oct. 14
- Eclipse glasses or a pinhole projector are needed to safely view the eclipse
- Remarkably, parts of San Antonio and the Hill Country are in the path of another solar eclipse soon -- a total solar eclipse will occur on Monday, April 8, 2024!
**Watch Live at 11 a.m. on Oct. 14: Annular solar eclipse, livestream with KSAT meteorologists**
What is an annular solar eclipse?
An annular solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes in front of the sun, but the moon appears smaller than the sun. This means you can still see the edge of the sun, creating a âring of fireâ in the sky. This differs from a total solar eclipse, when the moon completely covers the sun.
Many of us remember the partial solar eclipse visible from San Antonio in 2017, but the last time an annular eclipse was visible from San Antonio was 83 years ago in 1940.
The next time this type of astronomical phenomenon will come close to the Alamo City isnât until 2077!
The path of the eclipse
The annular solar eclipse will carve a path from Oregon to the Gulf of Mexico. Watch the video above from Meteorologist Justin Horne for the complete path through the U.S. and Texas.
Viewing the annular eclipse
Partial Eclipse Begins
- This is when the moon starts to move in front of the sun, giving the appearance of a crescent. Sickle-shaped shadows from trees and other objects will appear around you.
Full Eclipse
- The moon moves completely in front of the sun and a âring of fireâ will appear in the sky
- The sky will grow dimmer, although not as dark as the night. It will look more like dusk outside
- Temperature will drop slightly and animals may start behaving like itâs the evening
- In San Antonio, the full annular eclipse will last for a little more than 4 minutes
Partial Eclipse Ends
- First, skies will lighten as the moon begins to move away from the sun
- The sun will appear as a crescent until the moon completely moves out from in front of the sun
- The entire astronomical event will last for a little more than 3 hours for those around San Antonio
SAFETY FIRST!
Unlike during a total solar eclipse -- when you can look up without eye protection during totality -- you NEED to protect your eyes throughout the entirety of an annular eclipse. According to NASA,
If you donât have glasses, try making a pinhole projector!
Time of the eclipse
- In San Antonio, the partial eclipse will begin at 10:23 a.m.
- The full eclipse will take place from 11:52 a.m. to 11:56 a.m.
- The partial eclipse will end at 1:33 p.m.
- The exact time of the eclipse will depend on your location. Hereâs a list of times and length of the eclipse depending on where you live:
| LOCATION | PARTIAL ECLIPSE BEGINS | FULL ECLIPSE BEGINS | FULL ECLIPSE ENDS | DURATION OF FULL ECLIPSE | PARTIAL ECLIPSE ENDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAN ANTONIO | 10:23:50 a.m. | 11:52:08 a.m. | 11:56:29 am | 4m 21s | 1:33:03 p.m. |
| Bandera | 10:22:59 a.m. | 11:50:39 a.m. | 11:55:23 a.m. | 4m 44s | 1:31:25 p.m. |
| Boerne | 10:23:17 a.m. | 11:51:30 a.m. | 11:55:26 a.m. | 3m 56s | 1:31:56 p.m. |
| Castroville | 10:23:29 a.m. | 11:51:20 a.m. | 11:56:15 a.m. | 4m 55s | 1:32:27 p.m. |
| Floresville | 10:24:26 a.m. | 11:53:05 a.m. | 11:57:23 a.m. | 4m 18s | 1:34:14 p.m. |
| Fredericksburg | 10:22:47 a.m. | 11:51:34 a.m. | 11:53:44 a.m. | 2m 17s | 1:30:48 p.m. |
| Hondo | 10:23:13 a.m. | 11:50:55 a.m. | 11:55:53 a.m. | 4m 58s | 1:31:58 p.m. |
| Kerrville | 10:22:40 a.m. | 11:50:24 a.m. | 11:54:36 a.m. | 4m 12s | 1:30:41 p.m. |
| New Braunfels | 10:24:01 a.m. | 11:54:05 a.m. | 11:55:02 a.m. | 0m 57s | 1:33:16 p.m. |
| Pleasanton | 10:24:14 a.m. | 11:52:29 a.m. | 11:57:25 a.m. | 4m 56s | 1:33:57 p.m. |
| Rocksprings | 10:21:38 a.m. | 11:48:32 a.m. | 11:53:20 a.m. | 4m 48s | 1:28:47 p.m. |
| Seguin | 10:24:17 a.m. | 11:54:30 a.m. | 11:55:24 a.m. | 0m 54s | 1:33:46 p.m. |
| Uvalde | 10:22:41 a.m. | 11:50:36 a.m. | 11:54:30 a.m. | 3m 54s | 1:30:57 p.m. |
Check out the interactive map created by the Eclipse Company in partnership with The Planetary Society:
Eclipse Weather
It looks like weâre going to have great viewing weather for the October 14 eclipse. Other than a few clouds, itâll be mostly clear!
Not one, but TWO solar eclipses đ¤Ż
Remarkably, there will be ANOTHER solar eclipse just six months after the annular eclipse. A total solar eclipse will move through parts of San Antonio and the Hill Country April 8, 2024. Itâs a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and many people will be flocking to our hometowns to get a view of this amazing natural phenomenon. Read more about the total eclipse here.
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