Solar Eclipse

A solar eclipse or eclipse of the sun is an astronomical event that occurs when the moon comes between the sun and the earth, partially or completely obscuring the sun's orb from watchers on the earth. At that time, a shadow of the moon is created by the sun and the eclipse is seen on earth wherever that shadow falls.NASA: NASA Eclipse Web Site

The last annular solar eclipse was visible on January 15, 2010. The next total solar eclipse is projected to be on July 11, 2010. http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/solar.html

The annular solar eclipse was seen through Africa and Asia with the maximum eclipse point falling through the middle of the Indian Ocean. The annular phase of the eclipse was about eleven minutes and eight seconds in length. That made it the longest annular eclipse since the one on January 4, 1992 which lasted eleven minutes and forty one seconds. Scientists have determined that this recent eclipse will be the longest in duration until the annular solar eclipse of December 23, 3043.http://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar-eclipse-january-15-2010.html

Eclipses of the sun are visible on the earth about twice a year. They occur during a new moon, when the moon's shadow falls on the earth. The moon's shadow has two parts: the penumbra (the faint outer shadow) and the umbra (the dark inner shadow). If the umbra falls on the earth, a total eclipse is visible within the region described by that shadow. If the penumbra falls on earth, a partial eclipse is visible.Mr. Eclipse: Solar Eclipses for Beginners

The differentiation that creates an annular solar eclipse vs. a total solar eclipse is where in its orbit the moon falls. Since the orbit is oval shaped and not a perfect circle, the moon varies in distance from the earth, from a distance of 221,000 miles to 253,000 miles. When the moon is on its near side of its orbit, thereby closer to Earth, it can completely block the sun's light, resulting in a total solar eclipse.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1243436/Solar-Eclipse-January-2010-Sun-turns-blazing-ring-glory.html

If the moon is on the far side of its orbit, and therefore further from the earth, the moon appears to be smaller than the sun. It is unable to block the light completely, but obscures part of it, thereby creating an annular solar eclipse. At this stage, the umbra cannot reach the earth, leaving the antumbra to cast its shadow over the earth's surface. http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/time/eclipses.htmlhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1243436/Solar-Eclipse-January-2010-Sun-turns-blazing-ring-glory.html

The path that the eclipse follows in an annular solar eclipse is called the path of annularity, while in a total eclipse, it is known as the path of totality. If you are within this path, you will see an annular eclipse where, at its maximum phase, a ring (annulus) of sunlight surrounds the Moon.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1243436/Solar-Eclipse-January-2010-Sun-turns-blazing-ring-glory.htmlhttp://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/solar.html