A rare annular solar eclipse will visit Central Texas on Saturday, October 14th. This is the first solar eclipse of any sort in the United States since 2017. An annular solar eclipse happens when the moon is at its farthest point from us, and it passes between the sun and Earth. When the moon is farther away, it appears smaller than the sun and doesn’t completely cover it. The result is the sight of the Sun as a thin ring around the moon. We hope you enjoy this celestial event but also be safe while viewing it and driving that day. - Do not attempt to watch the solar eclipse while driving. Make sure you park or pull over in a safe area if you wish to view the event.
- Avoid stopping along the interstate or parking on the shoulder of a road,
- Drive with your headlights on. Daylight will be dimmed considerably, and this will help improve your vision and make you more visible to others.
- Be on the lookout for extra congestion from vehicles and pedestrians before, during, and after the eclipse.
- Avoid looking at the sun without proper eyewear protection. The only safe way to view the eclipse is through special-purpose solar filters, such as “eclipse glasses” or hand-held solar viewers.
The annular solar eclipse begins at 10:23 a.m. and ends at 1:33 p.m. Full annularity, or maximum darkness, will occur at 11:53 a.m. Parts of Texas, including Austin, are also in the path of the total solar eclipse on April 8th, 2024. | 
