At exactly 10:03 AM on October 14 (22:03 on the same day Vietnam time), three rockets will be launched by NASA directly into the mysterious shadow created by the “ring of fire” phenomenon that will darken parts of America.
This is an event that has been generating excitement in American newspapers for days, and people across the continent are eagerly anticipating: the “ring of fire” solar eclipse, also known as an annular solar eclipse.
During this type of eclipse, the Sun is not completely obscured by the Moon’s shadow, leaving a thin ring of light around the edge, creating a stunning visual display.
Annular Solar Eclipse – (Photo: NASA)
According to the solar eclipse map provided by Time and Date, the central path of the eclipse—where the “ring of fire” will be visible—will stretch from the waters just below the state of Alaska, sweeping through several states in the western and southwestern U.S., before continuing down through Central America and parts of northern South America.
Meanwhile, people in many other regions across the Americas will have the chance to witness a partial solar eclipse. The closer one is to the central path, the more coverage they will see.
Path of the Solar Eclipse Map – (Photo: TIME AND DATE).
The event will begin at 10:03 AM on October 14, Eastern Time (22:03 on the same day Vietnam time), reach its peak at 12:59 PM (0:59 AM on October 15 Vietnam time), and conclude at 3:55 PM (3:55 AM Vietnam time).
Of course, Vietnam will not be able to observe this phenomenon as the eclipse occurs during nighttime in our region.
Just one day before the much-anticipated moment, NASA unexpectedly announced that they would launch three rockets directly into the eclipse’s shadow.
According to Live Science, the three rockets will be launched from the White Sands missile range in New Mexico, USA.
And you shouldn’t worry: This is not a bombardment of space objects but rather a purely scientific mission.
These three rockets are equipped with sophisticated scientific instruments aimed at studying changes in the upper atmosphere of Earth during the sudden decrease in daylight caused by the eclipse.
The annular solar eclipse is expected to block approximately 90% of the Sun’s light, resulting in some truly strange effects on our planet, including rapid changes in temperature, wind speed, and even animal behavior.
Less understood is how the eclipse affects the ionosphere, located in the upper part of the atmosphere. NASA aims to address this significant question with the rockets.
