A total solar eclipse is visible only on a small area of?

Answer 1

When the Moon gets directly between the Sun and the Earth, as it generally does about every 6 months, we have a solar eclipse. The Moon is much smaller than the Earth, and the Moon's shadow is smaller yet, so only a small area of the Earth is in the shadow.

But the Moon is moving and the Earth is spinning, so the affected area of the Earth travels west to east along a track called the "path of totality", which is different for every eclipse.

Answer 2

Earth's surface, where the darkest part of the moon's shadow (umbra) sweeps across the planet. Only people within this narrow path are able to witness a total solar eclipse in its entirety. Outside this path, a partial eclipse may be visible to varying degrees.