Solar Eclipse Displays ‘Ring of Fire’ Over Easter Island and Patagonia, Reports Reuters

HANGA ROA, Easter Island/LAS HORQUETAS, Argentina – On Wednesday afternoon, a celestial event captivated spectators across the Pacific Ocean as the moon obscured most of the sun, creating a remarkable annular “ring of fire” eclipse visible in only a few locations.

Easter Island, along with a small region near the southern tips of Chile and Argentina, experienced the brief yet stunning annular eclipse.

“The ring of fire is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Rocio Garcia, a tourist on Easter Island. “Especially here in Rapa Nui with the Moai in the background, it will be spectacular.”

An annular eclipse occurs when the moon’s distance from Earth prevents it from completely covering the sun, resulting in a dark silhouette surrounded by a bright, glowing ring of light known as an antumbra, or more commonly, a “ring of fire.”

As the sun dimmed over the island, crowds gathered outside, chanting, playing music, and donning special eyewear to witness the phenomenon.

“I got excited when people were shouting. Everybody’s fervor made it even more thrilling,” recalled Alejandra Astudillo, a resident of Easter Island.

Approximately 175,000 individuals live within the path of the annular eclipse, providing both local residents and eclipse-chasing tourists a breathtaking view.

“It was an extraordinary phenomenon that’s not often seen,” exclaimed Esteban Sanchez in Las Horquetas, Argentina, one of the few towns directly in the eclipse’s path. “This is the first time I’ve seen something like this, and it was truly amazing.”

The southern half of South America, alongside parts of Antarctica and Hawaii, witnessed a partial eclipse, according to scientific maps.