On April 20th, 2023, sky-gazers all around the world will have the opportunity to witness a rare astronomical phenomenon known as a hybrid solar eclipse. This type of eclipse is a combination of an annular and a total solar eclipse, where the moon partially covers the sun, creating a ring of fire effect along some areas and a total eclipse along others. During a hybrid solar eclipse, some lucky observers may see the sun’s outer atmosphere, or the corona, glowing in the sky. If you’re planning on observing this rare celestial event, we’ve put together a guide to help you make the most of your viewing experience.
The year of 2023 sees two solar eclipses and one of them, occurring on April 20th, will be a rather unique event. Of the three basic types of eclipses – partial, total, and annular – this upcoming eclipse is the rarest type, an annular-total or hybrid solar eclipse. Hybrids only account for 4.8% of all eclipses and there have only been seven in the 21st century. This event will be a sight to see for those who view it, but remember to never look directly at the sun with the naked eye, even during an eclipse, as it can permanently damage your vision. It is important to purchase reliable solar eclipse glasses or make a pinhole camera to view the eclipse safely.
April 20th’s eclipse will begin by sweeping northeast across Indonesia, with the moon’s distance being too far away to fully hide the sun, resulting in a ring-shaped eclipse. At 10:38 p.m. EDT on April 19th, the eclipse will transition to a total eclipse as the umbra darkens the planet’s surface, with Western Australia being one of the lands that will see totality. From Cape Range National Park or Exmouth, Western Australia, the sun will be totally eclipsed. Unfortunately, requests to view the eclipse on Barrow Island, one of the lands along the totality path, have been denied due to a scheduled maintenance event. The point of greatest eclipse will occur south of Timor-Leste in Southeast Asia, where the sun will be totally eclipsed for 76.1 seconds. The eclipse will come to an end by passing through the North Pacific Ocean and transitioning into an annular eclipse for a couple of minutes.
Before and after the central (annular-total) eclipse, partial eclipse phases will be visible across the Indian and Pacific oceans, all of Australia and Indonesia, a portion of Southeast Asia, the north half of New Zealand, and a part of Antarctica. A partial eclipse occurs an hour before and an hour after the central eclipse and its magnitude, the percentage of the sun’s face that will be covered by the moon, varies depending on the location.
After April’s solar eclipse, another annular eclipse is set to occur on October 14th, with the path of the eclipse sweeping southeast across the western and southern U.S., Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Central America, southern Colombia, and northern Brazil. Following that is the “Great American Solar Eclipse” on April 8, 2024, running from southwest Texas to northern New England. Millions of people will witness this eclipse, with an estimated 32 million individuals living inside of the totality path.
In conclusion, the upcoming hybrid solar eclipse on April 20th is a rare event with a small path of totality. It is important to safely view the eclipse using solar eclipse glasses or a pinhole camera. Eclipses present an exciting and rare opportunity to witness the beauty and power of the celestial world.
