Ringvarjutus

Ringvarjutus, or annular solar eclipse, is a type of solar eclipse in which the Moon obscures the central portion of the Sun but does not cover it completely. When this alignment occurs, the Moon, being near its apogee, presents a smaller apparent diameter than the Sun, allowing a bright ring of sunlight to remain visible around the Moon, often described as a ring of fire.

The event is visible along a narrow track on Earth's surface called the path of annularity. Those within this path see the luminous ring; observers outside the path experience a partial eclipse, with only part of the Sun obscured. The duration of annularity is typically a few minutes, varying with the Earth–Moon geometry and the observer’s location within the path.

Observing a ringvarjutus requires proper solar viewing protection. Even though the Sun is partially covered, looking directly at the Sun without certified solar filters can cause eye damage. Safe viewing methods include eclipse glasses or solar filters for telescopes and cameras, and indirect projection techniques.

The term ringvarjutus is used in Estonian to refer to annular solar eclipses, and is equivalent to the English term annular eclipse. Annular eclipses occur a few times each year somewhere on Earth, but the track of annularity covers a relatively small area, making visibility from any single location relatively rare.