How Fast Will the Moon's Shadow Travel During the Annular Solar Eclipse on October 2?

First, on 2 October 2024, the annular solar eclipse is going to be a spectacular view of space. During the brief time the moon covers part of the sun from Earth, fire rings will be visible in parts of the Southern Hemisphere, but how fast is all this going to move around the planet?

Why the Eclipse Speed Differ

Depending on the country you hail from, the speed of the moon’s shadow movement during the eclipse will vary. The moon’s shadow is not uniform since it covers various places on the Earth, and its speed changes with a geographical location. How fast a shadow travels across the surface is influenced by the curvature of the Earth and how far the moon is from the ground below.

Where the Shadow Will Move the Fastest

Elsewhere, particularly as the eclipse is moving into or out of the Earth, the moon’s shadow will be ripping across at fabulous speeds. At these extreme locations the moon’s shadow will be traveling at over 10 million km/h. This is the speed at which it can be traveling if it strikes Earth at a sharp angle and the eclipse blinks across the sky in a few moments.

Where the Shadow Will Move the Slowest

In other locations, such as the Pacific Ocean, it will slow down noticeably at points. In this region, its shadow will move at a glacial speed of approximately 2,057 km/h. This is where the eclipse will be longest and the ring of fire will stay for up to several minutes, allowing those looking to get an extended view of the rare occurrence.

What’s causing these fluctuations in speed?

The speeds are different because of a few reasons. The eclipse begins when the shadow of the moon first touches the Earth and this usually occurs at an angle, which makes the shadow go fast. When the eclipse continues, the shadow starts hitting the Earth more squarely, which slows it down. Lastly, the distance between the moon and the Earth that is always changing affects the speed as well.