How does a solar eclipse work?

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking all or part of the Sun's light. This alignment happens only during a new moon, when the Sun and the Moon are in conjunction as seen from Earth. Here's a step-by-step explanation:
Alignment: The Moon orbits the Earth, and the Earth orbits the Sun. For a solar eclipse to occur, the Moon must be positioned directly between the Earth and the Sun, aligning on the same plane.
Umbra and Penumbra: The shadow cast by the Moon on the Earth has two parts:
Umbra: The central, darkest part of the shadow where the Sun is completely obscured. Observers in this area experience a total solar eclipse.
Penumbra: The outer part of the shadow where the Sun is partially obscured. Observers in this area experience a partial solar eclipse.
Types of Solar Eclipses:
Total Solar Eclipse: Occurs when the Moon's apparent diameter is larger than the Sun's, blocking all direct sunlight and turning day into night briefly.
Partial Solar Eclipse: Happens when only a part of the Sun is obscured by the Moon.
Annular Solar Eclipse: Occurs when the Moon's apparent diameter is smaller than the Sun's, causing the Sun to appear as a bright ring, or annulus, around the Moon.
Hybrid Solar Eclipse: A rare type where an eclipse can be observed as an annular at some points on Earth and as a total eclipse at others.
Path of Totality: The path along Earth's surface where the total eclipse is visible. It is usually very narrow, and observers must be within this path to see a total eclipse.
Solar eclipses do not occur every month because the Moon's orbit is tilted about 5 degrees to the Earth's orbit around the Sun. This tilt means the three bodies do not always align perfectly. Eclipses occur during eclipse seasons, which happen about every six months when the alignment is just right.