Final Solar Eclipse of 2024 Shines Over South America

On October 2, stargazers in Chile and Argentina witnessed the year’s last solar eclipse, known as a “ring of fire,” Al Jazeera reported today.

This annular eclipse occurred as the moon passed in front of the sun, darkening its center and leaving a bright ring visible. While the full eclipse was confined to a narrow path of totality, measuring 265 to 331 kilometers wide, a partial eclipse was enjoyed by viewers in regions including Antarctica, Hawaii, Mexico, and parts of South America like Brazil and Uruguay.

NASA estimates that two to four solar eclipses occur annually, but not all are visible from every location. The next solar events include two partial eclipses in 2025, with the first on March 29 visible across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, and another on September 21 in Australia and Antarctica. Stargazers will have to wait until February 17, 2026, for the next full “ring of fire” eclipse.