HUNDREDS of visitors have been spotted surrounding a famed national park to catch a front-row seat for a solar eclipse as stunning pictures of the rare event are captured.
The 2023 Annular Eclipse crossed the western portion of the United States on Saturday morning as onlookers patiently awaited the rare event.
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Pictures exclusively captured by The U.S. Sun show several people gathered with special viewing glasses at Great Basin National Park in Baker, Nevada, near the Utah border.
The stunning images also revealed the eclipse as the moon aligned itself between the Earth and the Sun.
Data collected by Nasa revealed that at around 9:23 am Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), the eclipse would be most visible over Nevada.
It is set to begin in Oregon about 15 minutes prior and end over Texas before disappearing from view in the early afternoon in the Lone Star State.
The eclipse’s path will continue throughout Mexico and most of Central America, including Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama.
Known as the “ring of fire” eclipse by many due to the effect the partial covering of the moon leaves behind, the determined path of the visual spectacle has gathered crowds across several rural cities across the country, per AP News.
Weather concerns were an issue for some, as cloud and fog cover could obscure viewing clarity.
Another national park in Utah was also flooded with visitors for the rare sight.
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Bryce Canyon National Park in southern Utah saw hikers out with flashlights before dawn to get the most opportune spot for the annular eclipse.
Some, like John Edwards, a cancer drug developer, went to great lengths to travel across the United States to witness the solar event.
“I just think it’s one of those things that unites us all,” Edwards told AP.
“I just think it’s seeing these unique experiences that come rarely is what got me here.
“This is about as rare as it gets.”
Nasa also live-streamed the event on its YouTube channel for those unable to make it to the optimal viewing window.
At any given viewing area, the eclipse event lasts for about two and one-half hours before it transitions out of visibility.
Additionally, the “ring of fire” effect only appears for about three to five minutes within the period.
The next annular eclipse of this kind will occur next October but will only be visible near South America’s southern tip.
In 2026, it will appear again over Antarctica, but American viewers will have to wait until 2039 for the “ring of fire” to appear over the US again — and it’ll only cross Alaska.
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Although, astronomy enthusiasts won’t be too bummed, as a total solar eclipse will pass through the United States next April.
It’s set to start in Mexico, moving northeast through Texas and New England before ending in the eastern portion of Canada.
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