Hybrid solar eclipse April 20, 2023: what is it and how to look at it

Most people believe that there isonly three types of solar eclipses. The first is a total solar eclipse, in which the Sun's disk is completely covered by the Moon. The second type is an annular solar eclipse, in which the Moon covers part of the Sun so that sunlight breaks through the edges and forms a “fiery disk”. The third variety is called a partial solar eclipse, and it's the most boring - the Moon only covers part of the Sun, and nothing else interesting happens. Few people know that there is also a fourth type of solar eclipse, which is known as hybrid. This astronomical event occurs everydecade, and the next one is expected very soon - April 20, 2023. Let's find out how a hybrid solar eclipse differs from all the others and whether the inhabitants of Russia will be able to see it.

On the morning of April 20, 2023, a hybrid solar eclipse will occur - one of the rarest astronomical phenomena

Content

• 1 What is a hybrid solar eclipse
• 2 Where to watch the hybrid solar eclipse on April 20
• 3 Hybrid solar eclipse in Russia
• 4 The rarest solar eclipse

What is a hybrid solar eclipse

Hybrid solar eclipse like everyone elsethe rest, occurs when the Moon overlaps the Sun and casts a shadow on the Earth's surface. A hybrid eclipse differs from all others in that people see a total eclipse in one part of the Earth, and a partial eclipse in another. Also, there is always a point, the inhabitants of which can see the process of transition of an annular eclipse into a total one and vice versa. In general, the spectacle is unique and eclipse hunters do their best to see it with their own eyes.

TIME Hybrid Solar Eclipse Explained

Every time a hybrid solar eclipse is visible indifferent places. For example, in a certain year, only those people who somehow ended up on a ship in the central Pacific Ocean can see the transition of a partial eclipse into a total one. If a hybrid eclipse is visible in this part of the Earth, then the inhabitants of the island of Kiribati will see a total eclipse, and the citizens of Japan will see a partial one.

Partial and total solar eclipse

Hybrid solar eclipse looks differentat different points on the Earth due to the curvature of our planet. The general rule is this: residents of places located closer to the center of the eclipse path have a greater chance of seeing a total eclipse, and inhabitants of peripheral places - only a partial one. In any case, to see a hybrid solar eclipse, you need to be at the right time in the right place.

See also: 5 things to help you become an amateur astronomer

Where to watch the hybrid solar eclipse on April 20

The transition from annular to total eclipse in 2023 will only be visible to people in the middle of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Partial phase of the solar eclipse will be visible in the southern Indian Ocean, parts of Antarctica, Indonesia and the Philippines, as well as in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific.

The total phase of the eclipse will be visible from the Indonesian island of Timor, parts of Papua and the Exmouth Peninsula in Western Australia.

The trajectory of the hybrid solar eclipse in 2023. Source: starwalk.space

Hybrid solar eclipse will start at 04:00:34 and will end at 09:59 Moscow time. The phase transition, which is only visible over the ocean, will last 1 minute and 16 seconds. On land, the longest total eclipse will occur in East Timor, lasting 1 minute 14 seconds. The total phase of the eclipse on the Australian island of Exmouth will last only one minute. The rest of the time will be occupied by a partial eclipse.

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Hybrid solar eclipse in Russia

In Russia, a hybrid solar eclipse on April 20will not be visible. But all is not lost because some organizations will be broadcasting live. Below you can choose one of the options, hit the "bell" to be notified about the start of the live broadcast - so you definitely do not miss anything.

Broadcast of the hybrid solar eclipse from timeanddate

Live broadcast of the hybrid solar eclipse from the Gravity Discovery Center & Observatory

The rarest solar eclipse

According to Space.com, every year in the world there are from two to five solar eclipses. In most cases, we are talking about total, annular or partial eclipses. Hybrid eclipses are the rarest and only occur once every ten years. In the 21st century, of all solar eclipses, only 3.1% were hybrid. The next hybrid solar eclipse is expected on November 14, 2031.

A hybrid solar eclipse is one of the rarest astronomical phenomena.

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Most likely, on the afternoon of April 20,lots of eclipse photos. It is possible that among them there will be real masterpieces, like a snapshot of a total solar eclipse in 2017. We talked about what is remarkable about this picture in a selection of amazing scientific photographs.