On Oct. 2, an annular solar eclipse will be visible from the Southern Hemisphere, creating a “ring of fire” effect as the moon doesn’t completely cover the sun. The moon’s shadow will travel at varying speeds, from over 6 million mph to about 1,278 mph, depending on the location. The shadow’s speed variation is due to the Earth’s curvature and the changing distance between the moon and different locations on Earth. The eclipse will move from northwest to southeast, starting at sunrise, peaking at midday, and ending at sunset. Always use solar eclipse glasses for safe viewing.