A solar eclipse is one of the most dazzling celestial phenomena that you can experience from Earth. It occurs when Earth, the moon and sun are aligned on the same plane, with the moon passing in front of the sun to cast a shadow on the planet below.
During a total solar eclipse, the moon completely covers the sun, which results in a period of "totality," when the moon completely blocks the light from the sun. This causes evening-like darkness during the daytime, as the center of the moon's dark shadow falls over Earth. Viewers do not experience totality during a partial solar eclipse, when the moon only blocks a portion of the sun's disk.
Latest about Solar eclipse
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During the recent total solar eclipse on April 8, scientists and other observers spotted some strange things in the sky and on the ground. Here are some of our favorites.
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Want to experience totality again? Here are the next seven total solar eclipses across the world, from Alaska to Australia.
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After the Great North American Eclipse comes a long "ring of fire" annular solar eclipse that can be seen in some iconic destinations.
Here are the best photos of the April 8 total solar eclipse over North America
Millions of viewers across Mexico and North America witnessed a historic total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. Here are some of the best photos from the day, including photos of totality, the sun's corona, and the diamond ring effect.
No, you didn't see a solar flare during the total eclipse — but you may have seen something just as special
Several media outlets have incorrectly claimed that explosive solar flares were spotted during the April 8 total solar eclipse. But there were no flares during totality, so what did people see?
Total solar eclipse reveals tiny new comet moments before it was destroyed by the sun
On April 8, just a few hours before the total solar eclipse, an amateur astronomer discovered a small "sungrazer" comet in close proximity to our home star. The newfound object was photographed during totality before disintegrating into nothingness later the same day.
'You could feel the energy and wonder': Despite clouds, totality wows crowds during solar eclipse in Syracuse
The total solar eclipse on April 8 plunged Syracuse, New York's Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology into darkness for 90 seconds, creating a wondrous and memorable totality.
