A Solar Eclipse, From First Contact to Last
A solar eclipse unfolds in a clear sequence over roughly two and a half to three hours, with four distinct moments — called contacts — marking the key transitions. Knowing what to expect, and when, helps you stay safe and miss nothing. Here is the order of events, from the Moon's first nibble at the Sun to the moment it moves away entirely.
First contact: the eclipse begins
First contact is when the Moon's edge touches the Sun's edge and the partial phase begins. You will see a small notch appear on one side of the Sun — and from this moment, certified ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses are required whenever you look up. Ordinary sunglasses are never safe, no matter how dark they look. Keep your glasses on throughout the partial phase.
The long partial phase
Over the next hour or more, the Moon slowly covers more and more of the Sun, narrowing it to a crescent. About fifteen minutes before totality, something shifts: the light takes on a strange, flat quality, the air noticeably cools, and bright planets like Venus may pop into view in a darkening sky. These are your cues that totality is close — stay in your glasses and watch the world change around you.
Second contact: totality begins
Second contact is one of the most dramatic moments in nature. Baily's beads — bright points of sunlight streaming through valleys on the Moon's edge — shrink to a single blazing point called the diamond ring, then vanish. The Sun is now completely covered. If you are inside the path of totality of a total eclipse, this is the only moment it is safe to remove your eclipse glasses and look with the naked eye. The corona — the Sun's pearly outer atmosphere — surrounds the black disc, the sky darkens, and a 360-degree twilight rings the horizon. Totality can last anywhere from a few seconds to about seven and a half minutes, depending on where you stand.
Third contact: totality ends — glasses on
A diamond ring flares on the opposite side of the Moon, and totality is over. Your eclipse glasses must go back on immediately — before that first point of sunlight returns. This is third contact, and from here the partial phases simply run in reverse: the Moon gradually uncovers the Sun as the crescent grows back into a full disc.
Fourth contact: the eclipse is over
Fourth contact is when the Moon's edge clears the Sun completely and the eclipse ends. The whole sequence, from first to last contact, typically spans two and a half to three hours. Keep your glasses on right up until fourth contact — there is no safe naked-eye moment during any partial phase, at any point in the event.
Common questions
When can I take my eclipse glasses off during a total solar eclipse?
Only during totality itself — from second contact to third contact — when the Sun is completely covered and you are standing inside the path of totality. The moment the diamond ring appears at third contact, put your glasses straight back on.
How long is totality compared to the whole eclipse?
Totality lasts from a few seconds up to about seven and a half minutes, depending on your location. The whole eclipse, including both partial phases, runs roughly two and a half to three hours.
Is it safe to watch the partial phases without glasses?
No. The partial phases — before second contact and after third contact — are never safe to view with the naked eye. You need eclipse glasses certified to ISO 12312-2 throughout every partial phase, right from first contact to fourth contact.