PORTLAND, Oregon — On Saturday morning, Oregonians in the path of annularity will be able to see a so-called "ring of fire" solar eclipse, but only if conditions cooperate.
A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, blocking the sun's light.
The event will start becoming visible in Oregon shortly after 8 a.m. on Oct. 14, beginning with a partial eclipse before reaching "annularity" a little after 9 a.m. Although the Portland metro area will get a glimpse of it, the best places to view it will be along the Oregon coast, the Eugene area and into parts of central and southern Oregon.
In August 2017, the solar eclipse's path of totality crossed several states, from Oregon just south of Portland, all the way to South Carolina on the East Coast. People traveled from all over to witness the astronomical event, with safety glasses that have a special solar filter.
During totality in 2017, viewers could briefly take off their protective shades — but this time around experts say that's a no-go. An annular eclipse, which is what we're seeing this year, is not the same as a total eclipse.
"This is a ring of fire eclipse, so the sun will not be occluded at any point during the eclipse. It's really important to wear eye protection for the entire event," said Dr. Kavita Bhavsar, an ophthalmologist at the Casey Eye Institute.
She explained what can happen if you don't protect your eyes.
"The damage is usually instantaneous, but people may not notice damage to their vision until an hour or perhaps even later," said Bhavsar. "The things that you're looking out for is blind spots in your vision, or any type of diminished vision, not seeing like you were before."
Before you purchase a pair of glasses, she said, check to see if they're vetted by the American Astronomical Society. The American Academy of Ophthalmology also released an information breakdown.