Annular Solar Eclipse

When the Sun, Moon, and Earth are almost perfectly aligned in a straight line, the Moon’s shadow falls on the Earth, this is known as a solar eclipse. Because the Moon is farther away from Earth in its elliptical orbit, an annular eclipse occurs when the Moon’s apparent diameter is smaller than the Sun’s. 

The Moon blocks most of the Sun’s central region in this position, leaving only a narrow annulus (ring) of the Sun visible. Solar eclipses can only happen on new moons, although not every new moon has one. On June 10, 2021, there was an occurrence of an annular eclipse in India. Then, the annularity’s course was near the Earth’s north pole. A partial solar eclipse was visible in the mid-and high-northern hemispheres. In India’s northernmost states of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and Arunachal Pradesh, it will be visible as a very faint partial eclipse. There will be no eclipse in the remainder of India.

Solar Eclipse: 

A solar eclipse can only occur during the new moon phase, when the moon passes squarely between the sun and the Earth, casting its shadows on the planet’s surface. However, whether the alignment results in a total solar eclipse, a partial solar eclipse, or an annular solar eclipse is determined by a number of factors.

It’s a freak of celestial mechanics and time that an eclipse can happen at all. The moon has been progressively moving away from Earth since its formation some 4.5 billion years ago. The moon is sometimes at the proper distance from us to appear in our sky as the same size as the sun and hence block it out.

Classification of Solar Eclipses: 

There are four different forms of solar eclipses. They are as follows:

• Total eclipse: When the new moon passes between the earth and the sun, a total eclipse occurs.
• Annular Eclipse: An annular eclipse occurs when the moon covers the sun’s centre and edges, forming a “ring of fire.”
• Hybrid eclipse: A hybrid solar eclipse happens when a total solar eclipse transitions to an annular solar eclipse.
• Partial eclipse: It occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the earth, creating a shadow on the sun and partially obscuring it.

Annular Solar Eclipse: 

The moon partially stops sunlight from reaching the earth during an annular solar eclipse. When the distance between the moon and the earth is large, this happens. Because of the great distance, the moon seems small and so does not completely obscure the sun. The moon looks like a little dark disc on top of a huge sun-coloured disc as a result. As a result, the moon appears to have a ring around it also referred to as the “ring of fire.”

Stages of Annular Solar Eclipse: 

The greatest eclipse, the fourth contact, the third contact, the first contact, and the second contact phases are the five stages of this type of solar eclipse. More information on these stages is as follows:

1. A partial solar eclipse begins at the first contact stage of an annular solar eclipse. The dark picture of the moon begins to appear on the sun’s disc. As a result, the sun’s image shifts, making it appear as if a piece of it has been removed.
2. The annularity begins at the annular eclipse’s second contact stage. The ring fire surrounding the moon begins to show. You can notice beads of light at the margins of the moon’s dark side if you look intently during this stage. 
3. The maximal eclipse stage is the third. The sun’s disc centre is obscured by the moon at this point. 
4. As the moon spins away from the sun, the annular eclipse comes to an end at this point. During this stage, you may detect some luminous beads around the moon’s edges.
5. The fourth contact stage of an annular solar eclipse is the final stage. During this stage, the partial solar eclipse ends and the moon pulls away from the sun’s disc completely.

This solar eclipse will last approximately six hours. In the places where it can be seen, the ring of fire is normally visible for around twelve minutes.

Avoidance: 

During a solar eclipse, avoid looking straight at the sun because the sun’s rays are usually very powerful. These rays have the potential to harm your eyes. They can, for example, damage the cells in your eye retinas by burning them. This radiation might potentially cause blindness.

Conclusion: 

Every one or two years, there is an annular solar eclipse. The moon is surrounded by a ring of fire during this solar eclipse. The moon must pass between the earth and the sun for this eclipse to occur. During the eclipse, you can glance at the sun. When looking at the sun, however, you must use a solar filter or eclipse glasses.