Our talented Daily Echo Camera Club members have captured this morning's partial solar eclipse.
Earlier today. it was possible to see nearly a third of the sun being blocked out by the moon in what is known as an annular eclipse.
These only occur every one or two years, when the sun and moon are exactly in line with the earth but the apparent size of the moon is smaller than that of the sun.
And some members of our Camera Club have caught the eclipse on camera.
Picture by Mary Morgenstern
Solar eclipses happen when the Moon comes between Earth and the Sun, the three celestial objects aligned so that the Moon leaves a shadow on Earth.
The type of solar eclipse that occurs depends on where the Moon is in its elliptical orbit.
Picture by Claire Sheppard
If the Moon is at its closest point to Earth it can block out most of the Sun’s rays, creating a total eclipse.
However, if the Moon is aligned with the Sun when it’s near to its furthest point from the Earth, it won’t block out all light.
Instead, it leaves a red ring or ring visible, creating what’s known as an annular eclipse.
Picture by John Scamell
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