On November 19, 2021, a rare hybrid solar eclipse occurred in a remote part of Australia. The eclipse, which was only visible from a narrow track across Australia and parts of Southeast Asia, was dubbed the “Ningaloo Eclipse” after the Ningaloo Reef, one of the best places to view it. Thousands of people flocked to the remote town of Exmouth in Western Australia to witness the event, which about 1,000 people managed to catch a glimpse of.
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, casting a shadow on the Earth’s surface. A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon completely blocks the Sun, but in this case, the Moon was too far from the Earth to completely block out the Sun, making it a partial eclipse.
The hybrid solar eclipse was an extremely rare event because it involved a combination of a total and annular eclipse, depending on the observer’s location. An annular eclipse occurs when the Moon is too far from the Earth to completely block out the Sun, creating a “ring of fire” effect.
Astronomers were particularly excited about the Ningaloo Eclipse because it provided them with a rare opportunity to study the Sun’s corona, the outermost part of the Sun’s atmosphere. During a total solar eclipse, the corona is visible as a halo around the Sun, but it is not visible during a partial or annular eclipse.
In addition to providing a scientific opportunity, the eclipse was also a popular tourist attraction. The small town of Exmouth, which has a population of just 2,500 people, saw an influx of visitors from across Australia and the world. Hotels and campsites were fully booked, and tour operators offered special eclipse-viewing experiences.
To celebrate the occasion, the Western Australian government released a playlist of “essential top 10 tunes to groove WA along in a 58-second-long planetary phenomenon.” The playlist included songs with celestial themes such as David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” and Pink Floyd’s “Eclipse.”
Overall, the Ningaloo Eclipse was a rare and exciting event that brought together both scientists and tourists. While it was only visible from a small area of the world, those who were fortunate enough to witness it will undoubtedly remember it for years to come.
