What happens during an annular eclipse?

During an annular eclipse, the apparent size of the Moon is smaller than that of the Sun. This occurs when the Moon is near its apogee, the farthest point from Earth in its elliptical orbit, which causes it to appear smaller in the sky compared to the Sun. As a result, when the Moon passes directly in front of the Sun, it does not completely cover it, leaving a visible ring, or annulus, of the Sun's surface visible around the edges of the Moon.

This phenomenon is distinct from total or partial eclipses where the Moon either completely covers or partially blocks the Sun's light. In an annular eclipse, the Earth does not block the Sun's light entirely; instead, the configuration allows some sunlight to penetrate around the edges of the Moon, creating a striking visual effect. This scenario emphasizes the importance of the distances of the Moon from the Earth and the distribution of sunlight in these celestial events.