A total eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, completely blocking the view of the Sun from a small part of the Earth, totally or partially. During a total eclipse, the dark silhouette of the Moon completely obscures the intensely bright light of the Sun, allowing the much fainter solar corona to be visible. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk, and the eclipse has several stages that sky-gazers anticipate. The five stages of a total solar eclipse are:

• Partial eclipse begins (1st contact): The Moon becomes visible over the Suns disk. It looks like the Moon has taken a bite out of the Sun.
• Total eclipse begins (2nd contact): The Moon covers the entire disk of the Sun, and observers are now within the Moons umbra, the darkest part of the Moons shadow. A diamond ring effect and Bailys beads are visible just before totality.
• Totality and maximum eclipse: The Moon completely covers the disk of the Sun. Only the Suns corona is visible. This is the most dramatic stage of a total solar eclipse. At this time, the sky goes dark, temperatures can fall, and birds and animals often go quiet. The midpoint of time of totality is known as the maximum point of the eclipse.
• Total eclipse ends (3rd contact): The Moon starts to move away, and the diamond ring effect and Bailys beads are visible again.
• Partial eclipse ends (4th contact): The Moon is no longer visible over the Suns disk, and the eclipse is over.

A total solar eclipse is the only type of solar eclipse where viewers can momentarily remove their eclipse glasses (which are not the same as regular sunglasses) for the brief period of time when the Moon is completely blocking the Sun.