Ring Of Fire

Around 6:19pm this evening I ran outside, and over the ocean I saw it… the much anticipated partial solar eclipse. So cool! And due to the “marine layer” I could actual look up without too much harmful glare. The partial solar eclipse reached its peak in Los Angeles at 6:38 p.m.

When’s the next eclipse?

You'll have to wait awhile. The continental United States won't see another good show for five years. And LA won't see as stunning a show for 59 years.

But here is a sampling of what's next in store for the solar eclipse front in the United States.

A partial solar eclipse is in store for the western United States on Oct. 23, 2014. Western Canada, Alaska and the northern edge of the U.S. border from Washington state to Wisconsin should have the best view, with more than 60% of the sun's diameter (its center line) blocked by the moon's shadow. California and the Southwest should see more than 40% of the sun's diameter covered.

This is the one to travel for. A "total" solar eclipse -- an even better one than Sunday's "ring" eclipse -- will completely cover the sun's light, blotting out even the sun's outer fringes. Total eclipses are far more exciting because they will shroud the land in an eerie midday twilight. The Aug. 21, 2017, total eclipse will glide through Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, northeastern Kansas, Missouri, southern Illinois, western Kentucky, Tennessee, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and South Carolina.

Los Angeles will see more than 60% of the sun's diameter covered up by the moon.