The 'ring of fire' explainedĪn annular solar eclipse is also known as a ring of fire. When an eclipse does occur during a perigee new Moon, it creates a cone-shaped umbral shadow in space.Īnd where the tip of this shadow touches Earth’s surface we see a total solar eclipse. Whether there will actually be an eclipse in any given orbit of the Moon around Earth depends on whether the new Moon crosses the ecliptic – the apparent path of the Sun across the sky. The distance from the Moon to the centre of Earth changes from a maximum of around 406,000km at apogee to around 357,000km at perigee. The comparative sizes of perigee (nearest) and apogee (farthest away) Moons, and the two different types of eclipses they create. Total eclipse vs annular eclipse visually. There’s a point in the Moon’s orbit when it’s nearest Earth, perigee, and appears big enough to block the Sun’s discĪnd a point when it’s farthest away, apogee, and doesn’t appear to cover the Sun. This happens because the Moon’s orbit around Earth is not a perfect circle but a slight ellipse shape. Credit: BBC Sky at Night MagazineĪn annular solar eclipse happens when the Moon appears smaller than the Sun as it crosses its disc, and so doesn’t block out all of its light. Annular eclipses occur when the Moon is further away from Earth when the Moon is closer to Earth and so appears larger, a total eclipse can occur. So what exactly is going on when annular eclipses occur, and why do they differ from total solar eclipses? Annular solar eclipse vs total solar eclipse Total eclipse vs annular eclipse explained. The remaining 10% of the Sun’s face that remains visible around its perimeter is enough for daylight to persistĪnd to mean that this eclipse can only be safely viewed through eclipse glasses or solar filters. That’s what will be visible on 14 October 2023 when people across the southwestern US, and Central and South America will see a thin, burning ‘ring’ around the Moon for over four minutes, as 90% of the Sun is blocked. A map of the October 14 annular solar eclipse path. These are two effects of a total solar eclipse, but what will take place across the US in October is a different kind: an annular solar eclipse.Īlthough the corona remains out of sight and daylight persists during these eclipses, they have other spectacular features, notably the ‘ring of fire’. The mention of a solar eclipse conjures thoughts of totality and a glimpse of the Sun’s ghostly corona, the outermost part of its atmosphere, as day turns to night. Credit: JAXA/NASA/Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory The October 14 annular solar eclipse explained An annular solar eclipse seen from orbit by the Hinode X-Ray Satellite, 25 October 2022. Read our guide to find out when the next eclipse is occurring. In this guide we'll reveal what an annular solar eclipse is, why they happen and how they differ from a total solar eclipse. Observers in North America will be able to enjoy one this year, during the 14 October annular solar eclipse. Have you ever heard of an annular solar eclipse? They're also known as a 'ring of fire' eclipse, and are spectacular to behold. What is an annular solar eclipse and why do they happen?
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