As you know, the Earth is orbiting the Sun, and the Moon is orbiting the Earth. Every once and a while, the Sun, Moon, and Earth all line up and something very special happens. A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun. During a solar eclipse, the Moon totally or partially blocks out the Sun during the daytime.
During a total solar eclipse, the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun and blocks the Sun from our view on the ground. Totality is the phase of the eclipse when the Moon fully covers the Sun. When this happens, part of the Earth is totally in the moon’s shadow. If you are in the shadow, it becomes dark during the daytime. The Sun’s corona is seen behind the Moon during totality.
Total Solar Eclipse Stages
Here are the main stages you will observe (through your protective eclipse glasses or homemade eclipse viewer box!) during a total solar eclipse:
First Contact
The leading edge of the Moon begins to cover the side of the Sun. A partial eclipse begins.
Second Contact
The leading edge of the Moon reaches the opposite side of the Sun. The Sun is fully covered. The total eclipse begins.
Totality
Totality is a period during a total solar eclipse in which the Moon completely covers the Sun. However, the Sun’s corona is visible during totality.
Third Contact
The trailing edge of the Moon reaches the side of the Sun. The Sun is no longer fully covered. The total eclipse ends.
Fourth Contact
The trailing edge of the Moon reaches the opposite side of the Sun. The partial eclipse ends.
Solar eclipse print materials
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References and Further Reading
- Lea, R. (2023). The 5 main stages of October’s annular solar eclipse explained. Space.com. Available: https://www.space.com/annular-solar-eclipse-2023-main-stages-explained
- NASA (n.d.). Types of Solar Eclipses. Available: https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/types/
- NCAR & UCAR Science Education (2017). 2017 Great North American Eclipse and the HAO Connection (video). Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBxymVkpMl8
2 replies on “Stages of a Total Solar Eclipse: a step-by-step guide with diagrams”
[…] You can use this viewer box to watch a partial or annular solar eclipse, or track the progress of a total solar eclipse before and after […]
[…] Every once and a while, the Sun, Moon, and Earth all line up and something very special happens. A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun. During a solar eclipse, the Moon […]