Albuquerque, New Mexico was the perfect location to witness the rare “ring of fire” solar eclipse that took place over the weekend. The city was not only directly on the centerline of the eclipse, but it also happened to coincide with the penultimate day of the world’s largest hot air balloon festival, Balloon Fiesta. Visitors from all over the world flocked to the festival to witness both the breathtaking hot air balloons and the stunning celestial event.
For meteorologist Matthew Cappucci, experiencing an annular eclipse had been a lifelong dream. With the added bonus of being able to attend Balloon Fiesta, he jumped at the opportunity to visit Albuquerque. His adventure buddy, Tess, and a cameraman from MyRadar, a weather app, joined him on the journey.
The day of the eclipse started early for Cappucci and his team. They planned to secure a flight aboard a hot air balloon to witness the event from above. Unfortunately, due to strong winds, their launch was canceled. However, they quickly adapted and decided to watch the eclipse from the town of Rio Rancho, just outside of Albuquerque.
The group managed to find a secluded spot with a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape. As the eclipse began, the atmosphere started to change. Shadows became sharper, and patches of sunlight created a unique visual effect. Cappucci described the experience as if the world had been dimmed and viewed through a sepia filter.
During annularity, the moment when the moon fully blocks the sun, the group observed a thin ring of gold around the moon through their protective glasses. Although not as breathtaking as a total solar eclipse, the annular eclipse was still an incredible sight.
Cappucci and his team were left in awe by the experience. They realized that a total solar eclipse would provide an even more extraordinary phenomenon. Luckily, they don’t have to wait too long to witness one, as a total solar eclipse is set to occur in the United States on April 8, 2024. Matthew Cappucci and his team have already made plans to attend and capture this unique event.
Overall, the combination of the “ring of fire” eclipse and the Balloon Fiesta created a truly memorable experience for visitors in Albuquerque. The city’s wide-open skies and stunning landscape served as the perfect backdrop for this extraordinary event.