Both solar and lunar eclipses take place in October

The annular solar eclipse on October 14 and the partial lunar eclipse on October 29 are two notable astronomical events occurring this month.

Partial lunar eclipse (left) and annular eclipse (right). Photo: Space/Getty

The annular solar eclipse can be seen in eight states in the southwestern United States. This type of eclipse occurs when the Moon is slightly farther from the Earth than usual, making it appear smaller and unable to cover the entire Sun, thus leaving a thin "ring of fire". People outside the annular phase viewing area will still be able to see the partial eclipse, including all of the United States, parts of Mexico, Central America, Colombia and Brazil.

The next annular solar eclipse will take place on October 2, 2024. At that time, astronomy lovers in the Pacific and some areas of South America can observe the ring of fire. But before that, another interesting event that will take place on April 8, 2024 is the Total Solar Eclipse. In fact, the upcoming annular solar eclipse is being used by scientists as a "warm-up" measure to conduct atmospheric and heliosphere research during the 2024 total solar eclipse.

The partial lunar eclipse in late October will be visible in much of the Eastern Hemisphere, including Europe, Africa, Asia, Antarctica and Oceania. During a partial lunar eclipse, the Moon will pass through the Earth's shadow and become darker than usual. The partial lunar eclipse will start at 2:36 a.m. on October 29 (Hanoi time) and end at 3:53 a.m.

This is the second lunar eclipse this year, after the penumbral lunar eclipse in May. During the penumbral lunar eclipse, the Moon will enter the outer shadow of the Earth so it will look dimmer but not disappear. The next lunar eclipse will also be a penumbral lunar eclipse, expected to take place on March 25, 2024 and can be observed in the Americas.