An annular solar eclipse is a type of solar eclipse that occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, but when it is at or near its farthest point from Earth. During an annular eclipse, the Moon appears smaller than the Sun and does not completely cover the Sun. As a result, the Moon appears as a dark disk on top of a larger, bright disk, creating what looks like a ring around the Moon. This circle of light is called an annulus, or sometimes a “ring of fire” . Annular solar eclipses happen only when the Moon is at the furthest point from Earth in its orbit, making the Moon appear smaller than usual from the Earth’s perspective. The eclipse begins and ends as a partial eclipse, and during the maximum phase of the eclipse, viewers will see a ring of sunlight around the Moon’s edges. The next annular eclipse in the U.S. will be on October 14, 2023.