Europe Prepares for First Total Solar Eclipse in 27 Years A total solar eclipse is a rare and awe inspiring phenomenon where the Moon completely covers the Sun's disk, revealing the Sun's ethereal corona.
This occurs when the Moon's orbit brings it directly between the Earth and the Sun, casting a shadow on our planet that is visible from specific locations on Earth.
Total solar eclipses are relatively infrequent because the Moon's orbit is tilted at an angle of about five degrees relative to the Earth's orbit around the Sun.