As the moon begins to cross paths with the sun, visible light will become less intense and the temperature around you will begin to drop. The sun will form a crescent shape around the moon, and shadows on the ground will change shape. Stars and planets in the sky will become visible as the moon blocks more and more sunlight.

Once only a tiny fraction of sun remains, a "diamond ring" will form. A strong bright light will emanate from one corner of the sun while a white glow will encircle the rest of the moon. Your surroundings on Earth will become dark and may even appear purple. As the "diamond" fades, tiny beads of sunlight will pierce through the valleys and craters on the edge of the moon's surface.

Totality is the most extreme stage of the total solar eclipse, as the sun is completely blocked by the moon. The sun's corona will be visible to the naked eye and will blast out around the moon, forming a distinct glimmer. Your surroundings will be colder and almost completely dark, similar to nighttime. Photos may look extreme, but they cannot compare to the visceral and surreal experience that comes with seeing it in person.

As the moon begins to move away from the sun, Bailey's Beads will return for the last time. As the Beads fade away, the diamond ring will reemerge. Your surroundings will start to become brighter as you are now past the "halfway point" of the eclipse.

As the diamond ring disappears from view, more sunlight will return and the moon will only block part of the sun. Shadows will return to normal and temperatures will increase. As the moon moves completely away from the sun, the solar eclipse will end.