Solar eclipse will be visible in Western U.S. Saturday morning

GILLETTE (WNE) — When Wyomingites look up at the sky Saturday morning, they should be able to see a partial eclipse.
During an annular solar eclipse, the apparent size of the Moon’s disk is slightly smaller than the apparent size of the Sun’s disk, so that only the outer edge of the Sun remains visible. For those who are inside the path of the eclipse, this will give the appearance of a bright ring of light, hence the name, ring of fire.
The path of annularity, in which 91% of the sun will be covered by the moon, will start in Oregon and move through Utah, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas.
Wyoming residents can expect to see about 70% of the sun covered, so while they won’t see a ring of fire, they should be able to see a crescent shape at points during the eclipse.
The eclipse will start at 9:05 a.m., Mountain Standard Time, and it will end at 12:38 p.m.
It is never safe to look straight at the sun without protection, and solar filters, such as eclipse glasses or welding glasses, are required to view the eclipse safely.
The last annular solar eclipse to go over the Western U.S. was on May 20, 2012, and there won’t be another one in this part of the country until 2046.
Saturday’s eclipse is six months before the total solar eclipse that will hit the U.S. on April 8, 2024. Unlike the last total solar eclipse in 2017, the path of totality will not go over Wyoming.