During a total solar eclipse, the Moon moves between the Sun and the Earth, casting a shadow on a portion of the Earth's surface. This celestial alignment causes several distinct phenomena to occur:
Umbra: The Moon's shadow has two parts—the inner region called the umbra and the outer region known as the penumbra. If you are within the umbra, you will experience a total solar eclipse. The Moon completely covers the disk of the Sun, and the sky turns dark.
Totality: Totality refers to the period during a solar eclipse when the Sun is completely blocked by the Moon. The sky darkens dramatically, resembling twilight. The bright solar corona, which is the Sun's outer atmosphere, becomes visible as a faint halo around the Moon. Planets and bright stars may also become visible during totality.
Diamond Ring Effect: Just before and after totality, when the Sun is only partially covered, a dazzling burst of light can be seen. This effect is known as the diamond ring effect. One last bit of the Sun's surface, called a "diamond," shines brightly through a valley on the Moon's limb, creating the appearance of a sparkling diamond ring.
Bailey's Beads: As the Moon slowly moves across the face of the Sun during a total solar eclipse, sunlight can filter through the valleys and gaps on the Moon's uneven surface. These pockets of sunlight create bead-like formations, known as Bailey's beads, around the edge of the Moon. These beads appear to twinkle as the Moon continues its journey, and eventually only one bead remains before totality.
Total solar eclipses are relatively rare events that occur in specific regions of the Earth and are only visible to observers within the path of totality. Outside the path of totality, observers will experience a partial solar eclipse where the Sun is partially covered by the Moon, but totality is not achieved.