Annular Eclipse

orange ring of Sun, mostly blocked by black Moon
NASA/Bill Dunford
October 5, 2017
CreditNASA/Bill Dunford
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An annular solar eclipse photographed on May 20, 2012. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes in front of the Sun as seen from Earth. An annular eclipse happens when the Moon is far enough away from the Earth in its orbit that the Moon doesn't quite appear large enough to cover the entire disc of the sun, leaving a "ring of fire."