A rare "hybrid-total" solar eclipse was witnessed by 2,000 eclipse-chasers from the deck of a cruise ship off the coast of Australia. The event was a combination of a total solar eclipse and an annular solar eclipse, with a colossal corona, multiple prominences, and a drifting "diamond ring" visible. The totality lasted for just 60 seconds, but the display of solar explosions was one of the advantages of experiencing a total solar eclipse while the sun is so active. The next hybrid total solar eclipse will be on Nov. 14, 2031, visible from the Pacific Ocean.
Skywatchers across the South Pacific witnessed a rare hybrid solar eclipse yesterday, where the phenomenon changes from a total solar eclipse to a ring-shaped annular eclipse as the moon’s shadow moves across the surface of the Earth. Skywatchers in Australia, East Timor, and Indonesia were lucky to witness the 62-second event because the next one won’t be until 2031 and there will only be seven hybrid solar eclipses this century. As always with solar eclipses, people came up with creative ways to capture the crescent star using everything from palms trees to colanders to capture the celestial event.
The rare hybrid solar eclipse occurred on April 19, 2023, with the moon's shadow passing over western Australia, East Timor, and Indonesia. The eclipse changed from a total solar eclipse to an annular one as the moon's shadow moved across the Earth's surface. Skywatchers from across the South Pacific shared their experiences online, and we have rounded up some of the best photos and videos. The next hybrid solar eclipse will occur in 2031, and only seven of this type of eclipse will occur in the entire 21st century.
A rare hybrid solar eclipse will occur on Wednesday night, shifting between a total and annular eclipse depending on the observer's location on the ground. Hybrid eclipses are rare and occur only a few times a century. The eclipse will start at 9:36 p.m. Eastern time and will be visible in the Indian Ocean and then move across to the Pacific Ocean, providing the best views for those in Western Australia, East Timor, and eastern Indonesian islands. The next hybrid eclipse will be in 2031.
A rare hybrid solar eclipse, which occurs when a solar eclipse can appear as an annular eclipse in some parts of the planet and a total in others, will take place on Wednesday in parts of the Southern Hemisphere. The eclipse will last more than three hours and will mostly be visible in West Papua, East Timor, and northern tips of Australia. Experts suggest wearing eclipse glasses or hand-held solar viewers for optimal viewing, and NASA will host a live-stream of the event.
