Solar Eclipse Shines ‘Ring of Fire’ Over Easter Island and Patagonia

A combination picture shows an annular solar eclipse observed from Tahai archaeological monument area in the Rapa Nui national park managed by the Mau Henua native community at Easter Island, Chile, on Oct. 2, 2024. Ivan Alvarado/Reuters

HANGA ROA, Easter Island/LAS HORQUETAS, Argentina—The moon blotted out most of the sun across the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday afternoon, giving just a few specks of land an impressive annular “ring of fire” eclipse.

Only Easter Island and a small area near the southern tip of Chile and Argentina witnessed an annular eclipse, lasting just a few minutes.