Based on the occulted area of the sun, solar eclipses are classified into different types:
- During a partial solar eclipse, the Moon only obscures part of the Sun. All solar eclipses begin and end with a period of partial eclipse.
- Total solar eclipses take place when the Moon completely covers the Sun, allowing the solar corona to be visible. Total solar eclipses can only be seen along a narrow track on the Earth’s surface, called the path of totality.
- Like a total eclipse, annular solar eclipses occur when the Sun and the Moon are in line with the Earth. However, during an annular eclipse, the relative size of the moon is not large enough to completely block out the Sun, resulting in a very bright ring surrounding the Moon’s disk.
The size of a solar eclipse is measured by the fraction of solar disk diameter that is being occulted by the moon, which is not the same number as the solar disk area covered by the moon.
CAUTION: never look directly into the Sun. Even during solar eclipses, you need to use dedicated eclipse glasses.