Watch the 2024 annular eclipse in Patagonia: all you need to know

An annular eclipse will dim the skies on October 2, with the best viewing spot being Santa Cruz province in Patagonia.

This type of eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and Earth at its furthest or nearly furthest distance from the planet. It creates the appearance of a dark circle with a bright ring around it.

The event will occur on Wednesday, October 2, with times slightly varying by location, generally between 4 p.m. and 6:20 p.m., peaking at 5:25 p.m. The annularity, where the ring forms around the moon, will last for six minutes and 20 seconds at the center of the eclipse path.

Key viewing locations include:

• La Ascensión in Patagonia National Park, located on Provincial Route 43, about 40 km from Perito Moreno.
• Cañadón Pinturas Portal in Patagonia Park, situated on National Route 40, 56 km from Perito Moreno.

Eclipse-related activities, talks, and offers will take place between September 28 and October 6 near Perito Moreno, Los Antiguos, and Lago Posadas.

To watch the eclipse, the best spots are near Perito Moreno along Route 40, where lodging options vary from around AR$50,000 (approximately US$51 at the official rate, US$39 at the MEP rate) to AR$214,000 (around US$220 at the official rate, US$167 at the MEP rate), depending on your choice of accommodation.

Transportation options to Perito Moreno include:

• Car: A 24-hour drive from Buenos Aires, with car rentals costing about US$35 per day, plus fuel.
• Bus: A 25-hour ride from Buenos Aires to Comodoro Rivadavia for approximately AR$100,000 (US$103 at the official rate, US$78 at the MEP rate), followed by a five-and-a-half-hour bus to Perito Moreno.
• Flight: A two-and-a-half-hour flight from Buenos Aires to Comodoro Rivadavia for around US$150 with Aerolíneas Argentinas, then a five-hour drive or bus ride to Perito Moreno. LADE operates limited flights from Comodoro Rivadavia to Perito Moreno.

If you can’t make it to Patagonia, Buenos Aires will offer views of a partial solar eclipse on October 2, from 4:23 p.m. to 6:43 p.m., peaking at 5:37 p.m. The Buenos Aires City Planetarium will host free screenings of the Sun from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., along with protective glasses, a projection of the event on a large screen, and educational talks.

Other parts of Argentina, such as Bariloche, Mendoza, and Córdoba, will also see the partial eclipse. Regardless of where you watch, proper eye protection is essential, as the sun remains partially visible throughout an annular eclipse. Use specially designed solar filters for direct viewing, including through cameras, binoculars, or telescopes.