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A unique "hybrid" solar eclipse will happen on Thursday, and here's how to watch it.

On Thursday, April 20, a unique combination of solar eclipse called "hybrid" will be visible in Oceania and Southeast Asia.

Image Credit: Broadsheet

Next week, people in Australia, East Timor, and eastern Indonesian islands will have the opportunity to witness a rare "hybrid" solar eclipse where the moon will block out the sun. During the event on April 20, the moon's shadow will move across the sun, resembling a coin in a magic trick, before revealing the fiery sun once again. The eclipse will take place from 9:34 p.m. EDT on April 19 (01:34 UTC April 20) and end at 2:59 a.m. EDT (06:59 UTC April 20), as reported by timeanddate.com. This is expected to be an unforgettable spectacle for skywatchers in the region.

The hybrid solar eclipse is a rare combination of a total solar eclipse and an annular solar eclipse. During a total solar eclipse, the moon completely covers the sun, allowing the solar corona to be seen for a brief moment with the naked eye. An annular solar eclipse, on the other hand, happens when the moon is too far from the Earth to entirely block the sun, resulting in a ring of fire effect around the moon's edges that can damage one's eyes if viewed without proper eclipse glasses.

The view of the eclipse will depend on the viewer's location on Earth. Most people will witness an annular solar eclipse, while those who are situated in a narrow strip from Antarctica to Western Australia will experience a total solar eclipse. There will also be two areas in the Indian Ocean where viewers can observe the eclipse transition from annular to total and back.

Only one inhabited location in Australia, the small and remote town of Exmouth, will have a view of the total solar eclipse, and is expected to attract a significant number of spectators to witness the perfect alignment of the sun, moon, and Earth.

The Indigenous Australians had a strong connection to the sky and used it for navigation and in their mythology. To them, solar eclipses like the hybrid eclipse represent a brief moment when the Moon Man and Sun Woman meet, as they usually chase each other around the sky. Many communities saw rare solar eclipses as bad omens.

For those fortunate enough to witness the event in person, it is crucial to wear special eclipse-watching glasses to protect their eyes from the sun's damaging glare. For those who cannot be there in person, timeanddate.com will be broadcasting a live stream of the event.

The next hybrid solar eclipse will occur over North America on November 14, 2031.

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