A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun, completely covering the Sun's disk. This alignment happens during a new moon phase and can only be seen from specific areas on Earth, known as the path of totality. During a total solar eclipse, the sky darkens, and temperatures can drop as the Sun's light is blocked. The event typically lasts only a few minutes, but it offers a unique opportunity to observe the Sun's corona, the outer atmosphere, which is usually hidden by the bright light of the Sun.