The Ningaloo Eclipse, a rare hybrid solar eclipse, was observed on the 20th of April, 2023. This unique astronomical event, attributed to the curvature of the Earth’s surface and a shift from an annular to total eclipse, also showcased itself lastly in 2013 and is expected to appear next in 2031.
Major Points Related to the Hybrid Solar Eclipse
This hybrid solar eclipse, named after a part of western Australia called Ningaloo, where it was most visible, was coined as the Ningaloo Eclipse. This area is noteworthy not only for this rare celestial phenomenon but also because it has been declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While a total solar eclipse was visible in regions such as Australia, Timor-Leste, and Indonesia (West Papua and Papua), parts of southeast Asia, East Indies, Australia, Philippines, and New Zealand got a glimpse of a partial solar eclipse. However, this spectacle was not visible in India.
Understanding a Solar Eclipse:
A solar eclipse is one of nature’s most remarkable spectacles. It transpires when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, thereby casting a temporary shadow on Earth and causing the Sun to darken momentarily. The Moon’s shadow comprises two parts – a central region or the umbra and an outer region, known as the penumbra.
Types of Solar Eclipses:
There are primarily four types of solar eclipses – total, annular, partial, and hybrid.
Total Solar Eclipse:
A total solar eclipse arises when the Moon entirely blocks out the Sun while in transit between the Earth and the Sun. One distinctive feature of this type of eclipse is the Baily’s Beads effect or the diamond ring effect which can be observed during a total solar eclipse or an annular solar eclipse.
Annular Eclipse:
An Annular Eclipse occurs when the Moon is at the farthest point from the Earth, thereby covering the Sun in such a way that only a small ring of light is visible from the Sun’s disc. This bright halo is popularly known as the “ring of fire”.
Partial Eclipse:
A Partial Eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun but is not perfectly aligned. Therefore, only a portion of the Sun appears to be covered by the Moon.
Hybrid Eclipse:
A hybrid solar eclipse occurs when the eclipse appears total from some parts of the Earth and annular from others. This variation depends on the observer’s position relative to the Moon’s shadow. Consequently, for some viewers, the Moon appears to completely cover the Sun, leading to a total solar eclipse, while for others, the Moon covers the Sun only partially, resulting in an annular solar eclipse.
This phenomenon was seen in the recent Ningaloo Eclipse, where observers worldwide were able to witness a myriad of natural wonders all under one awe-inspiring event.
