The last solar eclipse of 2019 and the decade delighted those looking up towards the sun today. The moon crossed the face of the in a dazzling “ring of fire” solar eclipse today in portions of the Eastern Hemisphere. While the eclipse was not visible in North America, views from the Middle East and Asia were broadcast and livestreamed in the United States.
The black shadow you see racing from west to east on this Japanese #Himawari8 weather satellite shows the #Annular #RingOfFire #SolarEclipse that happened before the sun set. It was visible from most of #Asia and the #MiddleEast. pic.twitter.com/0I05wZ1Ayr
— the Weatherboy (@theWeatherboy) December 26, 2019
The eclipse, known as an annular solar eclipse, began in Saudi Arabia, with the moon passing in front of the sun, but not completely covering the star’s face. Because the sun wasn’t completely covered by the moon, it left a bright ring, also known as an “annulus”, that made it look as if the moon was surrounded by a “ring of fire.”
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon moves between the earth and the sun and blocks the incoming light. When the moon is far from the earth, also known as apogee, its size is too small to completely cover the sun and an annular eclipse is observed. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon completely obscures the sun. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth’s shadow is cast onto the Moon, blacking it from the night sky.
