South America treated to rare ‘ring of fire’ eclipse
The rare spectacle occurs when the moon moves perfectly in line with the sun but doesn’t block it out completely, creating a fiery circle
Skygazers on the tip of South America were treated Wednesday to a spectacular “ring of fire” solar eclipse that was visible from Chile’s Easter Island before heading to mainland Patagonia.
The rare spectacle – which happens when the sun momentarily all but disappears as the moon crosses its path – drew dozens of tourists, photographers and astronomy enthusiasts to the Pacific island of 7,000 inhabitants.
There, they pointed their lenses at a partly cloudy sky against the backdrop of the “moais” – the giant statues iconic of Easter Island, long inhabited by Polynesian people.
“It was a mini sunset,” 55-year-old Ninoska Huki said of the “sublime” experience that hit the island shortly after noon local time.
A so-called annular solar eclipse occurs when the Earth, moon and sun line up.
