Home » News » Australia and Southeast Asia witnessed a rare hybrid solar eclipse, with thousands gathering to witness the celestial event.

Australia and Southeast Asia witnessed a rare hybrid solar eclipse, with thousands gathering to witness the celestial event.

On November 25, a rare hybrid solar eclipse was witnessed by viewers in Australia and parts of Southeast Asia. A hybrid eclipse occurs when the solar eclipse transitions from an annular eclipse, where the moon appears smaller and doesn’t cover the sun’s entire surface, to a total eclipse, where the moon covers the sun completely. The eclipse was visible from northern Australia, parts of Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and East Timor.

Thousands of people flocked to the remote Australian town of Exmouth to witness the celestial event. The small town, located on the western coast of Australia, offered a prime viewing location for the solar eclipse. Visitors from across the country pitched tents and set up camp in anticipation of the eclipse.

The town hosted a watch party for the eclipse, complete with tours, lectures, and entertainment. Notably, the Perth Symphony Orchestra played a set of songs inspired by astronomy during the eclipse.

The eclipse lasted for only one minute and 22 seconds. Despite the short duration, spectators marveled at the rare event, and many shared photos and videos on social media.

Solar eclipses occur when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, casting a shadow on the Earth’s surface. Total solar eclipses, like the one that occurred over Chile and Argentina in December 2020, are rare and highly anticipated events. Hybrid eclipses are even rarer, occurring just a few times per century.

The next solar eclipse visible from Australia will occur on April 8, 2024. This eclipse will also be a total solar eclipse, and it will be visible from parts of Mexico, the United States, and Canada.

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