Annular Eclipse

An annular eclipse is a type of solar eclipse that occurs when the Moon covers the center of the Sun, leaving a ring-like appearance called the “ring of fire.” This happens when the Moon is near its apogee, the farthest point from Earth in its orbit, making it appear smaller than the Sun in the sky. As a result, during the peak of the eclipse, the outer edges of the Sun remain visible around the Moon, contrasting with a total solar eclipse, where the Sun is completely obscured. Annular eclipses can only be observed from specific locations on Earth where the alignment is perfect, while areas outside of this path may see a partial solar eclipse instead. The phenomenon emphasizes the varying distances of the Moon and the Sun from Earth, influencing their apparent sizes in our sky.