This week, Skywatchers may get the opportunity to see a hybrid solar eclipse in various regions of the planet.
The forthcoming celestial spectacle, which will take place on Wednesday or Thursday depending on where you live, is particularly noteworthy since it is a hybrid solar eclipse, the rarest type and only 4.8% of all solar eclipses, according to NASA.
Total solar eclipses, partial solar eclipses, annular solar eclipses, and hybrid solar eclipses are the four different types.
A partial eclipse produces a crescent-shaped shadow, whereas a total eclipse occurs when the moon totally conceals the sun. When the moon is at its greatest distance from Earth, it forms an annular eclipse, which hides the sun and produces a striking “ring of fire.”
The annular and complete phases of an eclipse can occasionally alternate due to the curvature of the Earth’s surface. It’s referred to as a hybrid solar eclipse.
Australia and parts of Asia make for the greatest viewing areas for this week’s hybrid solar eclipse. You can view a live feed of the eclipse online if you’re not in that region of the world, though.
Safety
Online viewers won’t have any problems, but if you plan to observe the eclipse in person, make sure to heed all of the NASA-recommended safety precautions or you could permanently harm your eyes.
How to See
The maximum eclipse will happen around 9:16 p.m. PT on Wednesday, April 19, and NASA’s live stream will start at 7:30 p.m. PT.
You can watch it on the YouTube channel for NASA or on the video player placed at the top of this page. The space agency will broadcast live telescopic views of the unusual phenomena, and experts will be present to provide more information.
The eclipse will happen on Thursday, April 20, local time, if you’re watching from Australia. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation provides a thorough breakdown of times for various places throughout the nation.
