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November 3, 2023

Stages of an annular solar eclipse

The stages of the annular solar eclipse that occurred Oct. 14, 2023, photographed in Albuquerque, New Mexico. An annular solar eclipse occurs when the moon blocks out most of the surface of the sun, leaving only a bright circle of light known as a "ring of fire," or more accurately, an "eclipse annulus."

Learn more in the NSF Research News story Solar eclipse offers researchers and enthusiasts unique opportunity. (Date of image: Oct. 14, 2023; date originally posted to NSF Multimedia Gallery: Nov. 3, 2023)

Credit: Charlotte Geary/NSF


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