Lost Maples in Texas will see TWO eclipses in SIX MONTHS
A Ring of Fire eclipse in 2023 will be followed by a Total Solar Eclipse in 2024
Everybody knows that Carbondale, Illinois is the official ‘Crossroads of the Eclipses’ – it enjoyed Totality on August 21 and, remarkably, it will once again fall under the Moon’s shadow on April 8, 2024.
But Carbondale – or, rather, Little Egypt – is not the only Crossroads of the Eclipses. There’s another one in Texas.
A swathe of Texas will experience Totality on April 8, 2024, but six months before on October 14, 2023 it will also experience an Annular Eclipse – better known as a ‘Ring of Fire’. It doesn’t get dark, and it’s not possible to see Totality, but it’s still a spectacular sight.
Though eclipse safety glasses must be worn at all times, viewers will see a smaller Moon fit inside the disc of the Sun for just over five minutes, creating a Ring of Fire.
Austin, Texas is just outside the overlapping of the Paths of Totality, but the intersection of the centerline of both Paths occurs over Lost Maple State Natural Area. An area of hills, valleys, rivers and canyons, it boasts great views and cooler temperatures. There are plenty of hiking trails in the area, too.
As a bonus for amateur astronomers, this area often has a Dark Sky Star Party organized by members of the San Antonio League of Sidewalk Astronomers (SALSA), Curtis Vaughn Observatory staff & Lost Maples SNA staff.
When Is The Next Eclipse? When, where & how to see solar & lunar eclipses. Travel guide 2018-2030
Photo credit: Alec Norman/Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License
