What causes a solar eclipse to be annular?

Answer 1

The Moon's distance from the Earth can vary. This is because the Moon orbits the Earth in an ellipsoid manner, with the Earth at one of the foci.

On this ellipsoid the Moon can be nearer to, or further away from the Earth.

When all objects are further away from the observer, they appear to be smaller. Hence fir an annular eclipse the Moon is further away, therefore it appears smaller and allows a 'ring' of solar light around the black lunar disc.

When the Moon is nearer the Earth you have a Total Solar Eclipse, where at best you only see the corona.

NB the word 'foci' is the plural of the noun 'focus'. 'Focuses' is the verb. An ellipse has two foci. The Earth being at one of the foci, the other being a 'blind' foci.

The word 'foci' is pronounced as 'foe-s-eye'. the 'c' is soft and pronounced like an 's'.

Answer 2

An annular solar eclipse happens when the moon is slightly too far from the earth for its shadow to block out the disk of the sun.

Thus during an annular solar eclipse there is an entire ring of sun visible round the black disk of the moon - a golden Annulus (being the Latin for "ring") of sun is seen - Hence Annular eclipse!

Answer 3

An annular solar eclipse happens when the moon is slightly too far from the earth

for its disk to block out the entire disk of the sun.

Thus during an annular solar eclipse there is a skinny ring of sun visible round the

black disk of the moon - a golden "Annulus" (being the Latin for "ring") of sun is seen -

Hence "Annular" eclipse!