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
Solar eclipse glasses: Where to buy a safe, certified pair before the March 29 eclipse
You MUST wear protective eyewear to view a partial solar eclipse like the one coming to North American on March 29. Here's how to find a pair of certified solar eclipse glasses from an approved vendor.
March 29 solar eclipse: Where and when to see the rare sunrise solar eclipse from North America
A dramatic solar eclipse on March 29 will be the first one visible in North America since April 2024. Here's how to get the best view of the partial eclipse before it ends.
Watch: Spacecraft films 'diamond ring' solar eclipse from the surface of the moon as 'blood moon' looms over Earth
While millions of Earthlings watched the "blood moon" total lunar eclipse on March 13-14, the private Blue Ghost spacecraft caught an ultra-rare view of Earth blocking out the sun from the surface of the moon.
The 10 best stargazing events of 2025
The 2025 stargazing guide includes Venus at it brightest, a sunrise solar eclipse and three supermoons. Here are all the dates you need to know.
Space photo of the week: The sun's corona blooms during back-to-back solar eclipses
Composite images reveal how the sun's corona changed from one total solar eclipse to another in 2023 and 2024, just as solar activity began to peak.
Perseverance rover watches 'googly eye' solar eclipse from Mars
NASA's Perseverance Mars rover was treated to a 'googly eye' solar eclipse on Sept. 30 as the planet's moon Phobos passed in front of the sun.
Perseverance rover watches a solar eclipse on Mars
On Sept. 30, NASA's Perseverance rover turned its eyes toward the sky and photographed a solar eclipse from Mars, capturing the tiny moon Phobos crossing the sun's face.
Space photo of the week: Easter Island's last 'ring of fire' eclipse for 320 years
Oct. 2's annular solar eclipse saw a small-looking new moon cross the face of the sun to create a perfect circle for about six minutes.
'Ring of fire' solar eclipse blazes over Easter Island in incredible new image
On Oct. 2, a partial "ring of fire" solar eclipse was visible from the remote island of Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, where around 1,000 stone moai statues stand. You can see the whole celestial event play out in this incredible composite image.
