Annular Solar Eclipse: “Ring of Fire”

An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun, but is too far away from Earth to completely cover the solar disk. This leaves a brilliant, glowing border of the Sun visible around the dark silhouette of the Moon—an effect commonly known as a “ring of fire.”

Why It Happens

The Moon’s orbit around Earth is elliptical (oval-shaped), meaning its distance from us changes.

• Total Eclipse: When the Moon is closer to Earth (perigee), it appears large enough in the sky to block the Sun completely.
• Annular Eclipse: When the Moon is farther from Earth (apogee), it appears slightly smaller in the sky. When it perfectly aligns with the Sun, it doesn’t quite cover the whole disk, creating the “ring”.

Recent and Upcoming Dates

Because the Moon’s shadow only traces a narrow path across the Earth, an annular eclipse is only visible from specific, shifting locations each time.

• Most Recent: February 17, 2026. The path of annularity crossed directly over Antarctica, though a partial eclipse was visible from parts of South America and southern Africa.
• Next Up: February 6, 2027. This highly anticipated annular eclipse will sweep across the Pacific, crossing parts of South America and the Atlantic Ocean.

Important Safety Note: Because the Sun is never completely covered during an annular eclipse, it is never safe to look directly at it without proper, certified solar viewing glasses.

What is the exact difference between an annular solar eclipse and a total solar eclipse?

The exact difference comes down to the Moon’s distance from Earth and its apparent size in the sky.

In both cases, the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun. However, because the Moon’s orbit is elliptical, its distance from us varies.

The Key Differences

Feature	Total Solar Eclipse	Annular Solar Eclipse
Moon’s Position	At or near perigee (closest to Earth).	At or near apogee (farthest from Earth).
Apparent Size	The Moon appears larger than or exactly the same size as the Sun.	The Moon appears slightly smaller than the Sun.
Visual Effect	The Sun’s disk is completely blocked. The sky goes dark, and the Sun’s wispy outer atmosphere (the corona) becomes visible.	The Sun’s disk is not completely covered. A bright ring of the Sun remains visible around the dark Moon (the “ring of fire”).
Shadow Type	The tip of the Moon’s dark inner shadow (the umbra) touches the Earth.	The Moon’s dark inner shadow doesn’t quite reach the Earth; instead, the extension of that shadow (the antumbra) touches the surface.
Eye Safety	Safe to view with the naked eye only during the brief period of complete “totality” (usually a few minutes).	Never safe to view with the naked eye at any point. Certified solar glasses are required for the entire event.

What is a hybrid solar eclipse, and how does it relate to total and annular eclipses?

A hybrid solar eclipse is a rare celestial event that shifts between an annular and a total eclipse as the Moon’s shadow sweeps across the globe. Depending on where an observer is located along the central eclipse path, they will experience either a total eclipse or an annular “ring of fire.”

This dual nature occurs because the Moon is at a precise “tipping point” distance from Earth, and our planet’s surface is curved. The Moon’s inner shadow (the umbra) is just barely long enough to touch the Earth, meaning the slight difference in distance caused by Earth’s curvature dictates which type of eclipse occurs:

• At the ends of the eclipse path (sunrise and sunset): The observer’s location on Earth curves slightly away from the Moon. Because the surface is geographically farther away, the tip of the umbra falls short of reaching the ground. The extension of the shadow (the antumbra) hits the surface instead, resulting in an annular eclipse.
• In the middle of the eclipse path (midday): The Earth’s spherical bulge brings the surface slightly closer to the Moon. This tiny decrease in distance is just enough for the tip of the umbra to reach the ground, completely blocking the Sun and resulting in a total eclipse.

Because it requires such precise orbital alignment, hybrid eclipses are the rarest type of solar eclipse, accounting for less than 5% of all occurrences. The most recent hybrid eclipse crossed parts of Australia and Indonesia in April 2023, and the next one will not occur until November 2031.