In the Zone

An annular solar eclipse will be visible from a narrow path across the western United States on the afternoon of May 20. This map shows the path, with the peak of the eclipse in local time (p.m.). Viewers outside this path will see a partial eclipse. An annular eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between Earth and Sun when it is near its farthest point from Earth. At that distance the Moon isn't quite large enough to cover the Sun's disk, leaving a thin but bright "ring of fire" around the dark intervening Moon (inset). [Chris Duncan; inset: Sancho Panza/wiki] Viewing tips and times »