The “Ring of Fire” Eclipse Attracts Astronomy Enthusiasts in South America

On Wednesday, regions in South America witnessed a stunning “Ring of Fire” solar eclipse, lighting up the sky and captivating astronomy enthusiasts. The event was visible from Easter Island in Chile before moving to the Patagonia region.

This annular solar eclipse, which occurs when the Sun, Moon, and Earth align in a straight line, attracted dozens of tourists and photographers to Easter Island, which is home to about 7,000 residents. Photographers captured the scene alongside the famous “Moai” statues, erected by an ancient Polynesian civilization.

According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), Ninoska Huke, one of the witnesses of the phenomenon, described the experience as “like a mini sunset,” highlighting the excitement when the Sun began to gradually disappear behind the Moon.

The “Ring of Fire” lasted approximately six minutes, accompanied by a drop in temperature and brightness. The total eclipse lasted nearly three hours, according to NASA, which explained that the eclipse was observed in various parts of Latin America and the Pacific.

Experts emphasized that observing this phenomenon should be done using special glasses for safety or through indirect methods.

A partial solar eclipse is expected on March 29, 2025, and will mainly be visible from western North America, Europe, and northwestern Africa.