McDonald Observatory Celebrates October Solar Eclipse

On Saturday, October 14, Texans experienced a rare and beautiful annular “ring of fire” solar eclipse. It swept into the state from the border of New Mexico and exited by way of the Coastal Bend. Midland-Odessa, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi were all witness to the annular eclipse. The whole state was able to see a partial eclipse. (See the eclipse path here.)

What is an annular eclipse?

The Moon’s distance from Earth varies by roughly 31,000 miles (50,000 km). If an eclipse occurs when the Moon is farther away than average, the Moon isn’t quite wide enough to completely cover the Sun. That leaves a “ring of fire” around the Moon.

In April 2024, Texas will experience a second solar eclipse. However, during the next eclipse, the Moon will be close enough to cover the Sun. This will result in a total solar eclipse.

Helping the State Prepare for October’s Eclipse

In the months leading up to the October solar eclipse, McDonald Observatory was busy at work educating patrons and partners about the astronomical event. Funding from the Abell-Hanger Foundation helped to support this work, including:

• Publishing a special edition of StarDate magazine dedicated to the October and April solar eclipses.
• Presenting about the eclipses at local events.
• Holding training sessions for educators, community volunteers, and event planners. These sessions were attended by over 100 people.
• Distributing 96,500 solar viewers directly to the public and through community partners, including Girl Scouts of America, Alpine Public Library, Midland Independent School District, Midland County Libraries, and Midland Health Department.
• Hosting or participating in public eclipse celebrations at McDonald Observatory, Blakemore Planetarium in Midland, and the UT Austin campus. Thousands attended these events, which included family-friendly activities and free eclipse viewers.

In the News

With the help of state news outlets, experts from McDonald Observatory and UT Austin helped educated the public about the science of solar eclipses, how to experience them safely, and community viewing opportunities.

Highlights of annular solar eclipse coverage:

• September 6, 2023 – Texas Monthly magazine - Where to Watch the October 14 Solar Eclipse in Texas
• September 27, 2023 – Texas Highways magazine - The Science—and Luck—of the Two Upcoming Eclipses in Texas
• September, 2023 – Texas Highways magazine – Center of the Universe
• October 10, 2023 – El Paso Times newspaper - How often does a solar eclipse happen? Details to know about Saturday event in Texas
• October 13, 2023 – Texas Standard radio – Here’s how you can safely view the annular solar eclipse in Texas this weekend
• October 13, 2023 – Sun Radio, Austin – Eclipse Tips from the McDonald Observatory
• October 14, 2023 – Newswest9 TV, Midland - Museum of the Southwest sees hundreds show up to see the Annular Solar Eclipse
• October 16, 2023 – KUT 90.5 radio, Austin – Don’t look up! Shadows projected from the eclipse are just as cool

Up Next: A Total Solar Eclipse in April

In just seven months, Texas will experience a second eclipse!

On April 8, a total solar eclipse will travel from Eagle Pass, near Mexico, to the Arkansas border. Along the way, it will be visible from western San Antonio, most of Austin, and all of Waco, Dallas, and Fort Worth (see the path here).

During a total solar eclipse, people within the “path of totality” will see the Moon completely cover the Sun’s disk. When the Sun is covered – a moment called “totality” – people in the path will be able to see the Sun’s feathery corona radiating outward.

Many consider total solar eclipses to be more dramatic than annular solar eclipses. To start planning your April 8 viewing, visit our eclipse guide at www.mcdonaldobservatory.org/eclipse.