A solar eclipse is an astronomical event that occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, blocking the sun’s light and casting a shadow on a portion of the Earth’s surface. This happens when the moon is in its new moon phase and its apparent size in the sky is large enough to cover the sun’s disc.

There are a few different types of solar eclipses:

• Total solar eclipse – The moon fully blocks the sun’s light, creating a period of total darkness. This can last up to about 2.5 minutes.

• Partial solar eclipse – The moon only partially covers the sun, leaving part of the sun’s disc visible.

• Annular solar eclipse – The moon is farther away from the Earth, so it does not fully cover the sun’s disc, leaving a ring of sunlight visible around the moon.

During a total solar eclipse, the sky grows dark, stars become visible, and the sun’s atmosphere called the corona can be observed. Solar eclipses are relatively rare events at any given location on Earth, with a total solar eclipse visible from a specific point on the planet only once every 360-410 years on average.