First contact is the start of ingress, which is the partial phase when the Moon covers over the Sun.  Ingress proceeds with the Moon advancing from the right side of the Sun to the left, obscuring a larger and larger area of the solar disc.  This experience is familiar if you saw a partial eclipse (or partial phase) from Cleveland, most recently in 2012, 2014, 2017, and 2021.

As ingress deepens over the two o’clock hour, it becomes clear that something funny is going on.  The sky has a pale, washed out look, becoming a dull grey instead of the usual bright blue.  The temperature drops as the heat from the Sun diminishes. 

During the partial phases, it’s not obvious to the eye that the Sun is growing fainter.  The human eye has a remarkable ability to adapt to a trillion different light levels, from the brightness of full sunshine to the darkness of deep rural nighttime.  During the partial phases, the pupils in our eyes open to allow more sunlight, thereby maintaining the impression of full sunshine on a bright sunny day, but it’s apparent that there is something odd about the sky.

At a 99% partial eclipse phase, the amount of daylight is only 1% of full sunshine, about the same light level as that of a cloudy, overcast day.  But the shadows are still distinct and your eyes still give the impression of a sunny day.

Transition

It is now transition and there are too many things to see at the same time!  If you’re watching the sky, the partial phase ends as the umbra grows huge over the southwestern horizon, and it prepares to swallow the Sun.  If you’re watching the shadow bands, they become even more sharp as the light upon the ground darkens. 

The Baily’s Beads have disappeared behind the Sun, leaving only the last one as the Diamond Ring, a single speck of solar brightness which dwindles quickly as the Moon and Sun finally align. 

Darkness sweeps over the land, as if a Great Celestial Dimmer Switch dials down the Sun from full daylight to a deep twilight.  Your shadow disappears from behind you as you pass under the shadow of the Moon.  Keep your small children close by!  It becomes hard to recognize the faces of your companions as the light level drops over 1000 times as the Sun is extinguished in a short span of seconds. 

Eclipse Shades must now be removed or else you’ll miss the entire spectacle!

TOTALITY!

The time is now 3:13 PM in Cleveland, Ohio.  Totality has now commenced!  The full darkness of the lunar umbra has now descended over the landscape.

Solar prominences can be seen emanating from the chromosphere.  These are solar storms larger than the Earth, extending outwards from the surface of the Sun.  Soon the chromosphere vanishes, covered over by the ever-advancing edge of the Moon.

The horizon is encircled by eclipse twilight, 360 degrees of dusky light representing the sunlit sky from areas many miles away, beyond the path of totality.  In the first moments after the umbra falls over the land, the sky is still bright to the northeast, downstream along the path.  At first the eclipse twilight is uneven, lopsided.  It evens out over the short span of totality and becomes perfectly level along the horizon at mid-eclipse. 

The sight of a total eclipse is a breathtaking, visceral, awe-inspiring experience for most observers.  Emotional outbursts are common.  Some scream and cry, while others are calm and contemplative.  Some people experience a religious conversion.   

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament

sheweth his handywork. – Psalm 19:1

These are some of the adjectives people have used to offer their impressions of the totally eclipsed Sun:

"Surreal"... "Mind-Blowing"... "Spiritual"... "Terrifying"... "Mystical"... "Alien"... "Holy"... "Transcendental"... "Astonishing"... "Otherworldly"... "Sacred"....

In ancient history, a total solar eclipse interrupted a battle between the Medes and the Lydians in 585 B.C. in modern-day Turkey.  As reported by the Greek historian Herodotus:

…just as the battle was growing warm, day was on a sudden changed into night…. The Medes and Lydians, when they observed the change, ceased fighting, and were alike anxious to have terms of peace agreed on.

Partial Phase (Egress)

As totality ends, another Diamond Ring appears along the receding edge of the Sun, rapidly growing in brightness.  Daytime returns to the landscape, as if that Celestial Dimmer dials back up the sunshine. 

Egress begins, in which the partial phases of ingress run in reverse.  The Diamond Ring grows into Baily’s Beads, and Eclipse Shades must now be worn again for safe, direct solar viewing.  Shadow bands reappear, becoming faint as the sky grows brighter, as more of the Sun’s bright disc is uncovered by the Moon. 

The umbra moves off, now darkening the horizon toward the northeast, as observers in New York State and Canada experience totality.

Daylight is reestablished, and the normal sunny day resumes.  But sadly, many people inevitably lose interest during egress.  Some will dash for their cars, anxious to move on to the next thing.  Engines will crank up all over town while the Sun is still in a very deep phase of partial eclipse. 

But true eclipse aficionados know the eclipse is not yet over!  The Eclipse Party will continue for these die-hards for another hour and a quarter! 

The Moon backs away from the Sun in a decreasing phase of partial eclipse.  The entire eclipse event finally ends at last contact at 4:29 PM.

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