As the West Coast prepares to witness Sunday’s “ring of fire” eclipse, the first of its kind in more than 15 years, Alabama residents will have to resort to the Internet or television, or travel westward to Texas and beyond, to catch a glimpse of the spectacle.

Jimmy Irwin, assistant professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the University of Alabama, said states in the eastern U.S. would miss the eclipse because the sun will have already set by the time it begins, 5:24 p.m. PDT.

“This is a solar eclipse, meaning the moon is in front of the sun, and because it happens so late, we’ll already be on the night side,” Irwin said. “The cut-off point is in Texas.”

He said Sunday’s annular solar eclipse is different than a total eclipse because the moon will not completely block the sun. Instead, it will allow a narrow band of light to be seen from the Earth, creating a “ring of fire” effect.

Irwin urged those who plan on watching the eclipse in person to use solar glasses or a solar filter because, although only a small portion of the sun is visible, it is still enough to damage viewers’ eyes.