NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — According to NASA, the Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, annular solar eclipse will cross North, Central, and South America. It will be visible in parts of the United States, Mexico, and many countries in South and Central America.
STEM Educator Mary Smith with Cosmosphere says we won't see the Ring of Fire, but it will be significant here.
"Here in Hutchinson, we'll only see about 70% of the sun covered," Smith said. "Unless you travel kind of down southwest in the United States, through Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, out that direction. There's about 130 mile wide path that you have to be in if you want to see the full ring of fire."
The beginning of the covering will happen Saturday morning.
"10:21 in the morning, it's on a Saturday morning, so you don't have to miss work," Smith said. "Then, the max eclipse is going to be just before noon, about 11:46 a.m. That's when about 70% will be covered and then, when we get to about 1:18 p.m., that's when the moon will completely move across and be out of the path, so then you won't see it any more."
Smith said it is best not to look at the eclipse without special glasses. You can buy those at the Cosmosphere. Also, you shouldn't try to photograph the eclipse without special filters. Pointing your phone at it will likely ruin your phone's camera.
"There's people out there that are going to be photographing it that you can go admire," Smith said. "I recommend just going out and enjoying it, not worrying so much about photographing it, but enjoying it with your eyes, letting the professionals take the pictures."
Always inspect your eclipse glasses or handheld viewer before use; if torn, scratched, or otherwise damaged, discard the device. Always supervise children using solar viewers.
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