During an annular eclipse of the Sun, we see a bright annulus or "ring of fire." During a total solar eclipse we see the corona
during totality. In both events, the Moon is directly in line with the Sun and Earth. What differentiates these two types of solar eclipses? That is, what aspect of the eclipse geometry has changed to create an annular eclipse rather than a total eclipse?
Both a total and annular eclipse depend on the distances between Earth, the Moon, and the Sun. A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is closer to Earth, thus taking up a larger portion of the sky. The Moon is then able to cover the entire Sun.
The total solar eclipses occur when the pat of the earth is covered by the shadow cast by the moon that fully or partially blocks the sunlight and the sun and moon and earth are lined in a straight line and moon forms a ring around the sun.
While in an annular solar eclipse the moon partially blocks the part of the sun and appears to be smaller than sun and sun outer edges re visible. And takes place when a new moon casts its shadow on the earth.
In a total solar eclipses synergy takes place in an ecliptic plane and moons orbit is titled at 5 degrees and during the annual eclipse, the umber of the moon moves rapidly from the west to the east path.
<span>Mercury's distance at inferior conjunction is 0.61 AU
Looking at a table of orbits, Mercury has an orbital distance of 0.39 AU. So the inferior conjunction will be:
1 AU - 0.39 AU = 0.61 AU</span>
