It is only visible for a few seconds right after totality.

The Sun's chromosphere: The second most outer layer of the Sun’s atmosphere gives out a reddish glow.

They are little bead-like blobs of light at the edge of the Moon created by the sunlight passing through gaps in the mountains and valleys on the Moon's surface.

Baily's beads: About five seconds before totality, Baily's beads appear.

It is visible as a faint ring of rays surrounding the silhouetted Moon and is around 200–300 times hotter than the Sun’s surface-its temperature can reach over 1 million ☌ (1.8 million ☏).

The Sun's corona: As the diamond ring fades, the outermost part of the Sun's atmosphere becomes more prominent.

Together with the single jewel of light from the Sun, it creates the well-known diamond ring effect.

Diamond ring: Seen about 10 to 15 seconds before and after totality, the solar corona (the outer atmosphere of the Sun) becomes visible.

These shadow bands are the result of Earth’s turbulent atmosphere refracting the last rays of sunlight.

Shadow bands: About a minute before totality, moving, wavy lines of alternating light and dark can be seen on the ground and along walls.

They appear in this order as totality sets in (and in reverse order as totality ends): Some sights are only visible during a total solar eclipse. Phenomena only visible near the totality. Make sure you know how long totality lasts in your location. Even a small amount of direct sunlight can damage your eyes. Do not look at the Sun with naked eyes unless the Moon blocks the entire Sun. It is also safe to observe totality through cameras, telescopes, or binoculars without any special filters. It is safe to view a fully eclipsed Sun, totality, with the naked eye. To safely watch a solar eclipse, wear protective eclipse glasses or project an image of the eclipsed Sun using a pinhole projector. The Sun’s radiation can burn your eye's retinas and cause permanent damage or even blindness. Never look directly at the Sun, eclipsed or otherwise, without proper protective eyewear.

Partial eclipse ends (4th contact): The eclipse ends as the Moon leaves the Sun's disk.

Those fortunate enough to be in the Moon's umbral can see Baily's beads and the diamond ring effect just after totality ends. Total eclipse ends (3rd contact): The Moon starts moving away, and the Sun reappears.The midpoint of time of totality is known as the maximum point of the eclipse. At this time, the sky goes dark, temperatures can fall, and birds and animals often go quiet. This is the most dramatic stage of a total solar eclipse. Totality and maximum eclipse: The Moon completely covers the disk of the Sun.A diamond ring effect and Baily's beads are visible just before totality. Total eclipse begins (2nd contact): The Moon covers the entire disk of the Sun, and observers are now within the Moon's umbra, the darkest part of the Moon's shadow.It looks like the Moon has taken a bite out of the Sun. Partial eclipse begins (1st contact): The Moon becomes visible over the Sun's disk.There are five stages in a total solar eclipse: This is because they change from an annular to a total eclipse or from a total to an annular eclipse along their path.Īnimation: Next eclipse in your city Complete Solar Eclipse Has Five Phases Hybrid solar eclipses or annular-total eclipses are an exception to this rule. By convention, eclipses are named after their darkest phase-if a solar eclipse is total at any point on Earth, it is called a total solar eclipse. Observers outside the path of totality may see a partial eclipse. Typically, this path across the globe is around 15,000 km (9000 miles) long, but only about 150 km (90 miles) wide.

The total phase of the eclipse, where the Moon completely covers the Sun, is visible from along a narrow path of totality. ©Anne Buckle/timeanddate Only Visible along a Narrow PathĮvery 18 months or so-somewhere in the world-a total solar eclipse takes place. Totality: the length of time that the Moon completely covers the Sun can vary from a few seconds to over six minutes. Business Date to Date (exclude holidays).

Space umbra eclipse