How to tell between annular and total eclipse (directly)? An annular eclipse is similar to total eclipse except our Moon "apparently" appears smaller than the Sun, my question is since in both cases there will be a glowing ring forming... so how to tell them apart?
There is a massive difference in the brightness of the "ring". During a total eclipse, the photosphere of the sun is completely hidden and the corona comes into sight. The corona is much much less bright than the photosphere of the sun, so during a total eclipse, the sky becomes dark.

During an annular eclipse the photosphere is never completely obscured. The bright 'surface' of the sun is still visible, so the sky never becomes completely dark, the sun remains dangerously bright, and the corona is not visible. An annular eclipse is like the partial phase of a total eclipse, because part of the sun is still visible.