What occurs during an annular eclipse?

During an annular eclipse, the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, but the apparent size of the Moon is smaller than that of the Sun. This size difference occurs because the Moon is at a greater distance from the Earth in its elliptical orbit. As a result, instead of completely covering the solar disk, the Moon obscures only the central part of the Sun, leaving a ring-like appearance of the Sun's outer edges, often referred to as the "ring of fire."

This phenomenon is distinct from a total solar eclipse, where the Moon completely covers the Sun due to its closer proximity to Earth. In an annular eclipse, observers see this ring of light around the Moon, while those outside the path of annularity may only see a partial eclipse. Understanding the mechanics of this alignment—where the Moon is directly in front of the Sun but does not cover it entirely—helps clarify the nature of an annular eclipse.