COLOMBO (NewsRadio); A hybrid solar eclipse, a very rare and strange astronomical event will take place today.
This year’s first solar eclipse will take place from 7.04am to 12.29pm.
The rare solar eclipse is commonly known as a hybrid eclipse since it will shift from a total eclipse to an annular solar eclipse as the moon’s shadow moves over earth.
The Director of the Astronomy and Space Science Unit of the Department of Physics, University of Colombo Professor Chandana Jayaratne said the eclipse will not be directly visible in Sri Lanka as well as many other parts of the world.
According to experts, there are just two locations on Earth that will be able to witness the eclipse transition from annular to total before transitioning back to annular again, however, these locations are unfortunately in the middle of the ocean.
For some locations in the path of the solar, observers will witness a total solar eclipse, whereas, in other parts, they’ll witness a ring-like annular solar eclipse.
In both cases, the moon will pass between the Earth and the sun, blocking out all or most of the sun’s light falling on the Earth’s surface.
However, the eclipse is visible for a few regions in Western Australia, East Timor, and the eastern Indonesian islands.
Prof. Chandana Jayaratne said Sri Lankans can observe the eclipse live through several websites.
Hybrid eclipses are very rare.
The last hybrid eclipse has occurred nearly 10 years ago on the 3rd of November, 2013, while Nasa expects the next hybrid solar eclipse will occur in November 2031.
Only one other solar eclipse will occur this year on the 14th of October, following today’s solar event.
