‘Ring of Fire’ eclipse winds region up for next year’s event

The 2024 solar eclipse is six months out, but a ‘ring of fire’ eclipse is coming this weekend and the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce is ready to get ‘mooned.’ The chamber and Southern Signs and Graphics set up a giant pair of eclipse glasses on the chamber lawn, but the real thing is available in the office. From left: Director of Downtown Development Morgan McIntosh, President Steve Halter and administrative assistant Maci Stucker.

DAR/B. Kay Richter

The Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce is currently hosting a contest where if you purchase a pair of solar eclipse glasses, you can be entered into a drawing for a gift basket.

“If you purchase five pairs of glasses, then you get five entries into the contest,” Steve Halter, executive director of the Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce said.

On Friday, the day before the ‘Ring of Fire’ solar eclipse is slated for the early morning hours on Saturday, Oct. 14, the Chamber will draw for the winner of the raffle.

“We are using this as a kind of a launching pad to get people excited about April 8, 2024,” Halter said during an early morning interview in his office. “We have been working on this for a year and half.”

Another recent addition added by the Chamber was a replica of solar eclipse glasses which are now installed outside for viewing. Halter thanked the business Southeast Signs and Graphics for the donation of the sign. As far as the partial eclipse slated for Saturday, Halter said no businesses are planning for the event.

According to a recent article by the Associated Press, Saturday’s rare “ring of fire” eclipse of the sun is called an annular solar eclipse and will briefly dim the skies over part of the western U.S. including Central and South America.

Experts are dubbing Saturday’s annular eclipse as a prelude to the total solar eclipse that will occur in six months. A complete path for the 2023 eclipse can be found online at science.nasa.gov. According to media reports, the ring of fire lasts from three to five minutes, depending on the location. Within the U.S., more than 6.5 million people live along the path of annularity.

For those who are unable to see Saturday’s eclipse, NASA will provide a live stream of the event. The link for this live stream is https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2023/2023-annular-ecli...

For direct viewings, spectators are advised to use certified solar eclipse glasses. Sunglasses will not prevent eye damage. If one does not have eclipse glasses, there is another option available: looking directly with a pinhole projector, which can be made from a cereal box. Instructions are available online, and the NASA Goddard YouTube channel’s video “How to Make a Pinhole Projector to View the Solar Eclipse” provides full instructions.