‘Ring of fire’ visible through clouds over Iqaluit
Nunavut and Nunavik were the best spots to see Thursday’s solar eclipse, according to experts
Touted as a “ring of fire” eclipse, the show above Iqaluit at just after 6 a.m. on Thursday morning resembled something more along the lines of a smoke ring due to cloud cover. The annular eclipse, named for its annulus or ring shape, lasted just over three minutes but could only be seen for brief moments between clouds and snow flurries. (File photo by Dustin Patar)
As a science and astronomy buff, Iqaluit resident Ryan Girvin didn’t let a little bit of cloud cover prevent him from seeing the “ring of fire” solar eclipse on display in the northern sky Thursday morning.
“This was really up my alley — a solar eclipse. It was a good chance to see one again,” said Girvin, who last saw a total eclipse of the sun when he was just a child, about 35 years ago.
The so-called ring of fire was visible to viewers of Thursday’s solar eclipse in Iqaluit, including Ryan Girvin, who took this picture on his iPhone at 6:08 a.m. (Photo by Ryan Girvin)
Astronomy experts considered Nunavut and Nunavik to be prime locations to see the rare sight known as an annular eclipse because, at its height, a ring of sunlight surrounds the moon instead of the moon completely blocking out the sun. The effect is known as the ring of fire.
Girvin said he and his wife Carola Flores Galvez nearly slept through the celestial display because they knew the weather forecast called for cloudy skies, but at the last minute decided to go outside to check it out.
They got out of bed at 5:15 a.m., hoping to see the eclipse. When they looked out the window and saw how cloudy it was, they went back to bed.
But at 5:45, they gave it a second chance and went outside, hoping for a break in the cloud coverage.
The eclipse peaked around 6:06 a.m. ET, depending on the location.
“It would have been nice if it had been a clear day. We saw a bit of it,” he said.
Girvin wasn’t alone.
A small crowd of people with serious camera equipment mounted on tripods had assembled on the hill behind his and his wife’s home as well.
“Given that it was overcast, I was hoping to see what I could. Obviously, a blue sky would have been better.”
Did you see the eclipse this morning? Share your story in the comments, and be sure to include your location.
If you have a picture of the eclipse, please email it to editors@nunatsiaq.com with your name and the location, and we’ll be sure to add it to our Facebook page.
I tried watching the end of the world ,saw the moon moving in , then the clouds rolled in , that sucked .