(Newsweek) – The last total solar eclipse for decades that’s taking place on April 8 may also dazzle spectators with a unique “ring” due to fiery eruptions and explosions emitting from the sun, according to predictions by a solar physicist and a space weather forecaster.

Next month’s total solar eclipse will occur over the course of a few hours, with the path of totality spreading across more than a dozen states.

During totality, the moment when the moon completely blocks the view of the sun, bursts of plasma may be seen erupting from the sun, solar physicists say, noting that dark pink-hued loops, called “prominences,” might be part of the visible activity.

A total solar eclipse is a rare astronomical event where the skies momentarily darken during daylight hours due to the moon blocking the sun’s path of light toward Earth. While a total solar eclipse in the U.S. took place in 2017, the upcoming one in April is particularly special given that the next total eclipse won’t happen for another 20 years, until August 2044.

Next month’s eclipse is also expected to be even more unique because it coincides with the peak of a solar maximum, a period when the sun is extremely active, according to forecasters with NASA and the U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).

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