Antumbra

The antumbra is the section of a shadow where an annular eclipse may be viewed.

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In an annular eclipse, the moon is not of sufficient size to completely cover the sun, and so its shadow is not long enough to reach the Earth and result in a total solar eclipse. At maximum eclipse, the moon is surrounded by a ring, or annulus, of light, and the location on Earth where the ring can be seen is also the location of the antumbra.

Although the antumbra may be referred to as a "negative shadow", it is nevertheless darker than the penumbra, just like the umbra is in a total eclipse. However, whereas the umbra is completely devoid of sunlight, the antumbra is not because of the remaining ring.

Antumbra

See also