Texas will be experiencing a literal ring of fire this weekend.
On Saturday, Oct. 14, the annual solar eclipse will be visible in Texas and eight other states. As the path begins in Midland-Odessa and ends in Corpus Christi, people across Texas can watch the eclipse slowly appear at 10:20 a.m. and diminish at noon, with the solar ring appearing at around 11:41 a.m. Depending on where you are, the eclipse can be viewed anywhere from just a few seconds to five minutes. But if you're in the path's 125-mile radius, it will last approximately four minutes and 52 seconds.
Be sure to wear eye protection while looking in the sun’s direction, especially during the peak of the eclipse. Safe solar viewers can be purchased online or in local retailers for a tint thousands of times darker than regular sunglasses. If your package doesn’t get delivered on time, a DIY solar eclipse viewer can be made at home with a shoebox, paper and tinfoil.
The next solar eclipse won’t be back in this region until 2046, so be sure to experience this rare phenomenon safely with your family while you can this weekend.