Quote:
Originally Posted by Moontanman
I agree, the apparent size of the Moon and the sun is an amazing coincidence
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It isn't quite as an amazing coincidence as some people think. Because of the eccentricity of the Moon's orbit, its apparent size changes as seen by this image of the Moon at perigee and apogee.
(From
Inconstant Moon: The Moon at Perigee and Apogee)
The apparent size of the Sun varies slightly for the same reason, So there is some built in "slop" to the fit. Since Solar eclipses can happen at any time of the year and with the Moon at any point in its orbit, sometimes the Moon is actually a little larger than the Sun and at others it is smaller. When it is smaller, part of the photosphere of the Sun always shows. This is known as an annular eclipse.
