Rare hybrid annular-total solar eclipse to be seen in Australia and southeast Asia in 2023

Attention all sky gazers! Get out your calendars and mark May 10, 2023, as a day to remember. On this day, a rare celestial event, a hybrid annular-total solar eclipse, will be visible in a few parts of the world. This unique eclipse involves both types of solar eclipses, annular and total, happening simultaneously. This cosmic spectacle is a must-see for anyone interested in astronomy and nature’s wonders. In this article, we’ll explore what makes this hybrid eclipse a once-in-a-lifetime event and where people can witness this amazing cosmic phenomenon.


A rare hybrid annular-total solar eclipse will be witnessed in Australia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Ocean region in 2023, according to Universe Today. The 2023 eclipse season will commence on April 20 with this unprecedented event. This celestial phenomenon is a combination of a broken annular solar eclipse, totality, and an annular eclipse again. Only a few individuals will have the chance to encounter it as the shadow of the moon darts across the Earth.

The hybrid solar eclipse will travel over the Indian Ocean and arrive at three points of land, starting with Ningaloo Coast and Exmouth, on the northwestern edge of Australia, where it will make brief landfall. Timor Sea, the eastern region of East Timor near Dili, and some Indonesian islands, which include Kisar, the Schouten Islands, and Western New Guinea, will all be able to experience it. The total duration of the eclipse will only last for one minute and sixteen seconds, located just south of East Timor in the Timor Sea.

Eclipse-chaser and researcher Michael Zeiler said that the duration of the hybrid solar eclipse will only have about 2920 kilometers of broken annularity. Moreover, the rare hybrid solar eclipse runs longer than most annular-totals and is the longest until October 17, 2172. The central path at sunset will have a little bit of true annularity, which lasts for only four seconds. The hybrid event only makes up 3.1% of solar eclipses overall out of seven hybrid eclipses in the 21st century, making it a rare and unique opportunity waiting for astronomy enthusiasts and curious onlookers alike.

Even though solar eclipses are rare, they are more common than expected throughout the solar system. Misshapen annular eclipses caused by the Martian moons Deimos and Phobos are regularly observed by rovers on Mars, while Jupiter’s major moons offer a similar spectacle to Earth during mutual transit season, and some total solar eclipses feature a sharp fit. Total eclipses are less frequent than annular ones in the current epoch, and annular eclipses will continue to become even more common over the next few hundred million years as the moon moves away from the Earth.

While millions of people across Australia and Southeast Asia are eagerly anticipating partial views of the upcoming solar eclipse, proper precautions must be taken during all partial phases of the eclipse to ensure eye safety. Viewing the eclipse safely is critical, and it is necessary to use approved ISO 12312-2 glasses for viewing. Residents residing along the path of the eclipse will be treated to a rare and spectacular sight, and those who have the chance to experience the hybrid solar eclipse will cherish the opportunity.