Bhubaneswar: A rare celestial event – a hybrid solar eclipse – is taking place on Thursday. This usually happens only once in a decade.
“These hybrid eclipses are rare and are seen when both total eclipse (moon completely obscures the sun) and annular eclipse, (moon obscures the sun but appears smaller leaving the outline of a solar ring) occur at the same time. In this century, there will be seven hybrid eclipses,” said Deputy Director of Pathani Samanta Planetarium here, Suvendu Pattnaik.
However, it will not be visible in Odisha. “Some part of the world will see the total eclipse and others, the annular eclipse. People in some part of Southeast Asia, the East Indies, Australia, the Philippines and New Zealand will be able witness partial solar eclipse as it passes over the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It will begin from 7.04 IST and last till 12.49 pm,” he said.
Pattnaik further said that India will witness a partial solar eclipse in 2027 but it will not be visible in Odisha “A total or annual eclipse will occur 2031 in the lower part of India, Kanyakumari, and Odisha will be able to see a partial eclipse then. So, we have to wait for another 7-8 years,” he added.
According to reports, a hybrid eclipse usually starts as one type of eclipse and transitions to another. It is likely to reach to the maximum point by 9:46:53 am when the moon will fully cover the sun from the view of observers at the centre of the eclipse path on earth. This results in temporary darkening of the sky with a bright ring or annulus of sunlight around it.
The eclipse is being live-streamed by NASA via this link.
In the next century, skywatchers will witness a Hybrid Solar Eclipse on March 23, 2164, according to Space.com.
