• First solar eclipse of 2023: Five facts to know about it

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    First solar eclipse of 2023: Five facts to know about it

    A hybrid solar eclipse is a unique type of eclipse that occurs just once every century. According to NASA, hybrid eclipses go from annular to total due to the curvature of our planet.


    Digital Desk: The world will witness a unique astronomical event: a hybrid
    solar eclipse. It occurs when a total eclipse and an annular solar eclipse both
    occur at the same time.




    When the moon
    passes between the Earth and the Sun, it casts a shadow on the Earth's surface.




    Here's everything you need to know about
    today's hybrid solar eclipse.




    mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin">What exactly is a hybrid solar eclipse?



    mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin">A hybrid solar eclipse is a unique type of
    eclipse that occurs just once every century. According to NASA, hybrid eclipses
    go from annular to total due to the curvature of our planet.



    mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin">What distinguishes it from a total eclipse?



    Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin">Total eclipses happen when the moon
    totally obscures the sun, annular eclipses happen when the moon obscures the
    sun but appears smaller, leaving the shape of a solar ring, and hybrid eclipses
    happen when both happen at the same time.



     



    mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:#212121;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Where
    will it be seen?



    mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:#212121;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">On
    April 20, skywatchers in Australia and parts of Southeast Asia will be able to
    see a hybrid solar eclipse as it travels over the Indian and Pacific Oceans,
    according to NASA. Unfortunately, India will not be able to see the hybrid
    solar eclipse.



    mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:#212121;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Is
    it time to view the solar eclipse?



    "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:#212121;
    mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">The eclipse will be visible in Western Australia
    from 10:29 p.m. to 10:35 p.m. EDT on April 19 (2:29 p.m. to 2:35 p.m. GMT on
    April 20), East Timor from 11:19 p.m. to 11:22 p.m. EDT on April 19 (3:19 p.m.
    GMT on April 20), and Indonesia from 11:23 p.m. to 11:58 p.m.




    When will the next
    solar eclipse be visible?



    The
    next partial solar eclipse will be visible in India on August 2, 2027 (though
    not in Odisha), and the next annular solar eclipse will be visible in 2031.