Next week, sky-watchers will be treated to a rare astronomical event – a hybrid solar eclipse. This type of eclipse occurs when the moon is positioned so that it appears larger than the sun, causing a total eclipse for some areas of the Earth and an annular eclipse for others. Only a handful of hybrid solar eclipses occur each century, making this event a must-see for astronomy enthusiasts. But how can you watch it safely and effectively? Read on to find out.
Skywatchers in Australia, East Timor, and eastern Indonesian islands are in for a treat, as a rare hybrid solar eclipse occurs on April 20. During the event, the moon will pass in front of the sun, blocking it like a gold coin in a magic show, before sliding away to reveal it. This exciting eclipse is dubbed “hybrid” because it is a combination of both a total solar eclipse and an annular solar eclipse, presenting viewers with one eclipse, then another as the moon’s shadow glides over the Earth’s surface.
According to Timeanddate.com, the eclipse will start at 9:34 p.m. EDT on April 19 and end at 2:59 a.m. EDT on April 20. In a total solar eclipse, the moon completely blocks out the sun, permitting the wispy strands of the solar corona to be briefly observed with the naked eye. However, in an annular solar eclipse, the moon is a little too far from Earth to entirely obscure the sun, creating a halo of burning plasma around the moon’s outer edges that can damage the eyes if viewed without protective eclipse glasses.
Whether viewers witness the eclipse as a total or an annular eclipse depends on where they are positioned along Earth’s curved surface relative to the moon. Most individuals will observe an annular solar eclipse, but those under a slender track running from Antarctica to Western Australia will see a total eclipse. Two spots will witness the eclipse transitioning from annular to total and back again, but they are in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
Australia will only have one inhabited place from which a total solar eclipse will be visible, a small and remote town of Exmouth, where thousands are expected to witness the perfect alignment of the sun, moon, and Earth. For Indigenous Australians, solar eclipses represented the brief conjoining of the Moon Man and Sun Woman who otherwise chased each other around the sky. Many communities regarded rare solar eclipses as bad omens.
When in the regions lucky enough to witness the hybrid eclipse, viewers must wear special eclipse-watching glasses to safeguard their eyes from the sun’s damaging glare. Those who are unable to view the eclipse in person can watch it online at timeanddate.com, which will be broadcasting a livestream of the event.
The next hybrid solar eclipse will appear over North America on November 14, 2031.
