New Mexico is one of only eight states in the country where the annular solar eclipse also known as the ‘ring of fire’ will be visible on Saturday, Oct. 14.
During an annular solar eclipse, the moon appears slightly smaller than the sun, so it can't block the entire disk. The result is a stunning "ring of fire." The last time this rare event crossed the Southwest was in 2012.
Sunspot Solar Observatory will be celebrating the event with food from Triple Nickell BBQ Truck, live music, activities for the family and talks with scientists from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Dunn Solar Telescope observation room.
New Mexico State University leads a consortium of universities to operate the solar telescope at Sunspot, NM. The observatory, nestled atop the Sacramento Mountains, is approximately 18 miles south of Cloudcroft, New Mexico.
Partnering with Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, AZ, Staff at Sunspot Observatory will be giving free solar glasses to all visitors and solar telescopes will be available for public viewing.
If you can’t make the trip, visit Lowell Observatory’s live coverage of the eclipse starting at 9 a.m. Saturday at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLxFltF-DOI.
Sunspot Observatory is located at 3001 Visitor Center Drive, Sunspot, NM. For more information, call 575-434-7190.
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CUTLINE: New Mexico’s Sunspot Solar Observatory will host activities, food and observations of the annual solar eclipse also known as the “ring of fire.” Mexico State University leads the consortium that operates the Sunspot Solar Observatory. (NMSU photo by Chloe Dunlap)