Ring of Fire, Seen From SpaceThe moon nearly blots out the sun on January 4 during an annular eclipse captured here by Japan's Hinode satellite. During an annular eclipse, the moon is slightly farther from Earth than usual and so appears smaller than during a total eclipse—leaving the edges of the sun visible.(See more annular eclipse pictures.)
Image courtesy Hinode/XRT

Space Pictures This Week: Ring of Fire, Rare Moon, More

A solar eclipse occasions a blazing halo, Earth-size jets shoot from the sun, and more in this week's best space pictures.

January 16, 2011