WeatherWhys for March 8,2016 from accuweather.com

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly between the Earth and the sun. This causes the moon to fully block the sun for a small area on the Earth. The shadow of the moon onto the Earth is called the Umbra. A solar eclipse can only happen during a new moon and there can only be two total solar eclipses per year. Remember, looking directly at the sun, even during an eclipse, can cause permanent eye damage.