Correction: Balloon Fiesta intersects with solar eclipse in October
Elizabeth Tucker Elizabeth TuckerElizabeth Tucker Journal Staff Writer
PublishedModified
CORRECTION:
Blinded by the moon yesterday, ABQjournal digital team falsely reported that the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta would be a perfect viewing ground for the lunar eclipse taking place in October. However, this was incorrect because lunar eclipses take place only at night and solar eclipses happen during the day.
The celestial spectacle is indeed happening during the day — making it a solar eclipse, when the moon crosses in front of the sun, rather than a lunar eclipse, when the earth's shadow passes in front of the moon.
The moon's outline will cover the sun leaving only "a ring of fire" starting shortly after 9 a.m. on Saturday Oct. 14.
As a reminder, never look directly at the sun without proper eye protection, even during a solar eclipse.
NASA will be attending the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and distributing 80,000 solar eclipse viewing glasses for all guests, AIBF's website stated.
See solar and lunar eclipses through the years
Solar eclipses
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The solar eclipse near peak shot through cloudy skies from the Academy for Technology and the Classics charter school in Santa Fe, Monday August 21, 2017.Eddie Moore
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Students at the Academy for Technology and the Classics charter school in Santa Fe watch a solar eclipse through cloudy skies. National School Choice Week, sponsored by the National School Choice Awareness Foundation, takes place each year in the last week of January.Eddie Moore
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Dr. Arup Das, chief of Ophthalmology at UNM talks about how to safely look at a solar eclipse.ADOLPHE PIERRE-LOUIS
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From left, Chris Sanchez uses a welding helmet with Cristina Chavez, center and Nicolette Garcia, right share a pair of eclipse glasses to watch Monday's solar eclipse on Civic Plaza in downtown Albuquerque, photographed on Monday August 21, 2017.Dean Hanson
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Dolores Sparling, watches the solar eclipse while joining a large group of viewers at the Rio Grande Nature Center on Monday August 21, 2017.ADOLPHE PIERRE-LOUIS
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The solar eclipse shot from the Academy for Technology and the Classics charter school in Santa Fe, Monday August 21, 2017.Eddie Moore
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The partial solar eclipse is projected on a membrane at the end of a oil funnel from the eyepiece of Dee Friesen's 6 inch Orion reflector telescope at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science on Thursday, October 23, 2013. Watching with protective sunglasses are Samantha Abbott, left, and Kristen Newcomer, both of San Marcos, Texas.GREG SORBER
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Annular solar eclipse, Sunday, May 20, 2012.Morgan Petroski
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Annular solar eclipse, Sunday, May 20, 2012.Morgan Petroski
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Annular solar eclipse, Sunday, May 20, 2012.Morgan Petroski
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Annular solar eclipse, Sunday, May 20, 2012.Morgan Petroski
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Annular solar eclipse, Sunday, May 20, 2012.Morgan Petroski
LUNAR ECLIPSE
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The Moon seen during a lunar eclipse over Albuquerque Jan., 20, 2000.ROB MATTSON
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A Lunar EclipseJEFF WHIPPO
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A super blue blood moon hangs over Albuquerque on Wednesday, January 31, 2018. The event is a total lunar eclipse during a blue moon, a second full moon in one month, and a supermoon, when the moon is closest to the earth.GREG SORBER
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Lunar eclipse captured by NASA.Courtesy of NASA
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Stages of the Jan. 31, 2018 super blue blood moon (weather permitting) are depicted in Pacific Time with moonset times for major cities across the U.S., which affect how much of the event viewers will see. While viewers along the East Coast will see only the initial stages of the eclipse before moonset, those in the West and Hawaii will see most or all of the lunar eclipse phases before dawn.Source: NASA
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This year's Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta will be extra special overlapping with a lunar eclipse that will cover the sun leaving only a thin outline referred to as a "ring of fire."
"New Mexico is one of eight states in the path of the Solar Eclipse," AIBF's website stated. "Balloon Fiesta Park (is) a prime location to view the eclipse’s totality."
The eclipse will take place Saturday Oct. 14 shortly after 9 a.m. and will last until just after noon.
The supermoon lunar eclipse captured over NASA's Glenn Research Center on September 27, 2015.(NASA
