Total Solar Eclipse Science

Total solar eclipses happen when the New Moon comes between the Sun and Earth and casts the darkest part of its shadow, the umbra , on Earth.

During a total eclipse of the Sun, the Moon covers the entire disk of the Sun. In partial and annular solar eclipses, the Moon blocks only a part of the Sun.

Only viewers located in the path of the Moon's full shadow, its umbra , can see a total solar eclipse. Those outside the path see a partial eclipses. By convention therefore