Ring Of Fire Solar Eclipse Sunday

ASE2012pp2b — This weekend, an annular eclipse of the Sun is visible from within a narrow corridor that traverses Earth's northern Hemisphere, according to NASA (Photo via Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA's GSFC)

This Sunday, residents of western United States and East Asia will get to experience an amazing sky show: A solar eclipse will occur leaving a ring of fire look in the sky.

This solar eclipse is not a total eclipse, but an “annular eclipse,” causing this ring-like effect in the sky because the moon is so far from Earth that it’s too small in the sky to cover the solar disk completely. When a full solar eclipse occurs, the moon lines up between the sun and the Earth and obscures the entire solar disk, according to the Associated Press.

At the height of the eclipse, it will block around 94 percent of the sun’s light, reported Space.com.

According to CBS News, while the annular solar eclipse will be visible for Asia, the Pacific region and some of the west coast of the United States. Other parts of the United States and Canada will be able to catch a partial solar eclipse.

Unfortunately, the East Coast will miss the solar eclipse.

If you’re planning on moving plans around to catch the event, check out NASA skywatching tables which are available via the NASA website. These provide information regarding the times and locations where each eclipse will be visible.

If you happen to catch this spectacular event in the sky, remember it could be dangerous. NASA warns eclipse viewers, “Never stare directly at the sun with your naked eye or through binoculars or a telescope without proper light filters. Serious eye damage can result.” For the safest viewing NASA advises you create a pinhole camera.