Solar Eclipse to Transform Sun into 'Annulus' Ring of Fire

A solar eclipse set to take place on Tuesday 29 April will transform the Sun into a "ring of fire".

Solar eclipses occur during a new moon, when the moon gradually passes between Earth and the Sun.

The event taking place next week will be an annular solar eclipse, which occurs when the moon is farthest away from our planet. As opposed to a total eclipse, the moon is so small it is unable to cover the Sun completely, which leaves a ring of fire around the silhouette of the moon called an annulus.

While the spectacular event may not be visible to most parts of the world, skygazers will be able to witness partial phases of the eclipse. It will only be entirely visible in a small area of Antarctica "over a small D-shaped" area spanning just 500km.

According to Universetoday.com, the event is a "non-central eclipse with one limit" in which the centre of "the Moon's shadow - known as the antumbra during an annular eclipse - will just miss the Earth and instead pass scant kilometers above the Antarctic continent".

Where can you watch the eclipse?

Australia will have the best view of the event. According to Space.com, northern Australia is the ideal place to see the eclipse, as less moon will cover the Sun. In Sydney, the eclipse will begin at 4.14pm (local time) and will be approximately 52% covered at 5.15pm. The sun will then set in eclipse two minutes later.

In western Australia, skywatchers will be able to view the end of the solar eclipse. In Perth, the eclipse begins at 1.17pm (local time) and will be at 59% at 2.42pm before ending at 3.59pm.

The eclipse can also be viewed in Tasmania. From Hobart, it will begin at 3.51pm (local time) and the maximum eclipse will be at 5pm.

How do you watch an eclipse?

Severe eye damage can be caused by looking by directly at the Sun during an eclipse without a telescope or a filter. Partial solar eclipses have the greatest potential for eye damage, as the Sun is never completely covered by the moon.

The safest way to view the event is to project its image with a pinhole camera. It is a simple camera without a lens, which has a single small aperture. It is effectively a light-proof box, in which light from a scene passes through the single point and projects an inverted image on the opposite side of the box.

Filters are available to buy from science centres and planeteriums and there is no safe way to create your own from ordinary materials.