MPR News Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner signs off

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

Early risers across the Northern Hemisphere may see what looks like a "ring of fire" in the sky Thursday morning as the moon passes between the Earth and the sun.

, will appear that way because the moon is at or near the most distant point in its elliptical orbit around the Earth right now, so when it passes between us and our nearest star it will block out just part of the sun. A total solar eclipse happens when the moon covers up the entire sun so that only a haze of light around the darkened moon is visible.

Instead, we humans will catch one of two sights Thursday morning:

 This is when the moon is at its farthest point from the Earth and appears very small. The whole moon passes in front of the sun, creating what looks like a donut hole in the middle of the star.

 This occurs when the three celestial bodies are not perfectly lined up, so only part of the moon passes in front of the sun. In this case, the sun will look like it's had a bite taken out of it.

Only some people will be able to see an annular solar eclipse on Thursday.

But even a partial eclipse will still appear as if "the 'Death Star" is in front of the sun as it's rising," Jackie Faherty, an astrophysicist at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, 

According to NASA, viewers in the Southeast, Northeast and Midwestern continental United States, as well as in northern Alaska will be able to see a partial eclipse before, during and just after sunrise.

A partial eclipse will also be visible in much of Canada as well as parts of Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and the Caribbean.

People in parts of Canada, Greenland and northern Russia will be able to see the annular eclipse, the agency said.

If you're unable to see the eclipse from where you are or simply want a clearer picture, NASA is streaming the astronomical event 

The stream, which begins at 5 a.m. ET even though sunrise won't start until around 5:47 a.m., will show a partial solar eclipse.

it is not safe to look directly into the sun

, even if it is partly covered by the moon.

That's why NASA recommends wearing "solar viewing or eclipse glasses" throughout the entire crossing. Regular sunglasses don't count.

There are also some creative alternatives to seeing the solar eclipse without risking injury to your eyes, such as viewing it through a 

 lunar eclipse that occurred in late May.

The Earth passed directly between the sun and the moon, giving the moon a 

The lunar eclipse and the solar eclipse are happening so close together because the moon is traveling on roughly the same plane this month, 

. On one day the moon will line up with the sun on one side of the Earth, and about 15 days later it will line up with the sun on the other side.   

Science

Joe Hernandez

Author

Early risers across the Northern Hemisphere will be able to see an eclipse Thursday morning when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun.

How to see the 'ring of fire' solar eclipse on Thursday

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox