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When, as shown, the Moon comes in a direct line between the Sun and Earth it hides the Sun from view for a few minutes causing a "Total" eclipse in that part of the Earth touched on the diagram by the black pointer, but only a "Partial" eclipse in the shaded part surrounding that point. It may happen occasionally that although the Moon is central over the Sun a thin rim of sunlight can be seen round Moon's edge. This is called an "Annular" eclipse, and happens if the Moon is farther than usual from the Earth, and so looks smaller.
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