A solar eclipse that occurs when the Moon's umbra does not reach Earth's surface is called
A)a total solar eclipse.
B)a partial solar eclipse.
C)an annular solar eclipse.
D)a penumbral solar eclipse.
E)an umbral solar eclipse.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is too far away from Earth to completely cover the Sun, leaving a ring of light visible around the edges. This happens because the Moon's orbit around Earth is not perfectly circular, so its distance from Earth varies throughout the year. During an annular solar eclipse, the Moon's umbra only reaches a small portion of Earth's surface, while the rest of the planet experiences a partial eclipse.

A Solar Eclipse That Occurs When the Moon's Umbra Does