How does the Sun’s distance from Earth affect whether a solar eclipse is total or annular?

Whether a solar eclipse is total or annular depends on the apparent angular sizes of the Sun and Moon, which fluctuate because both Earth and the Moon travel in elliptical orbits.12

Because these orbits are not perfect circles, the distances between these celestial bodies change throughout the year and month. A total eclipse occurs when the Moon is close enough to Earth to appear large enough to completely cover the Sun’s disk.12

Conversely, an annular eclipse occurs when the Sun is near its closest point to Earth and the Moon is near its greatest distance from Earth. In this configuration, the Moon appears smaller than the Sun in the sky. Consequently, the Moon cannot fully obscure the solar disk, leaving a bright rim or ring of the Sun visible around the Moon’s silhouette.12