<P> There are four types of solar eclipses: </P> <Ul> <Li> A total eclipse occurs when the dark silhouette of the Moon completely obscures the intensely bright light of the Sun, allowing the much fainter solar corona to be visible . During any one eclipse, totality occurs at best only in a narrow track on the surface of Earth . This narrow track is called the path of totality . </Li> <Li> An annular eclipse occurs 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 . Hence the Sun appears as a very bright ring, or annulus, surrounding the dark disk of the Moon . </Li> <Li> A hybrid eclipse (also called annular / total eclipse) shifts between a total and annular eclipse . At certain points on the surface of Earth, it appears as a total eclipse, whereas at other points it appears as annular . Hybrid eclipses are comparatively rare . </Li> <Li> A partial eclipse occurs when the Sun and Moon are not exactly in line with the Earth and the Moon only partially obscures the Sun . This phenomenon can usually be seen from a large part of the Earth outside of the track of an annular or total eclipse . However, some eclipses can only be seen as a partial eclipse, because the umbra passes above the Earth's polar regions and never intersects the Earth's surface . Partial eclipses are virtually unnoticeable in terms of the sun's brightness, as it takes well over 90% coverage to notice any darkening at all . Even at 99%, it would be no darker than civil twilight . Of course, partial eclipses (and partial stages of other eclipses) can be observed if one is viewing the sun through a darkening filter (which should always be used for safety). </Li> </Ul> <Li> A total eclipse occurs when the dark silhouette of the Moon completely obscures the intensely bright light of the Sun, allowing the much fainter solar corona to be visible . During any one eclipse, totality occurs at best only in a narrow track on the surface of Earth . This narrow track is called the path of totality . </Li> <Li> An annular eclipse occurs 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 . Hence the Sun appears as a very bright ring, or annulus, surrounding the dark disk of the Moon . </Li>

What side of the sun is covered first during a solar eclipse