Skip to main content

How to watch a rare hybrid solar eclipse

Update: The eclipse is over. Below you can watch a recording of NASA’s real-time stream that covered this rare event.

NASA Science Live: Watch a Total Solar Eclipse in Australia

Original article:

Sky-watchers in some parts of the world should look up this week, as there’s a chance to witness a hybrid solar eclipse.

Occurring on Wednesday or Thursday depending on your location, the upcoming celestial event is particularly special as it’s what’s known as a hybrid solar eclipse — the rarest kind that accounts for just 4.8% of all solar eclipses, according to NASA.

There are four types in all: a total solar eclipse, a partial solar eclipse, an annular solar eclipse, and a hybrid solar eclipse.

A total eclipse is where the moon completely blocks the sun, while a partial eclipse results in a crescent shape. An annular eclipse occurs when the moon is around its furthest point from Earth and blocks the sun to creates a dramatic “ring of fire.”

Due to Earth’s curved surface, an eclipse can sometimes shift between annular and total as the moon’s shadow moves across the globe. This is called a hybrid solar eclipse.

The best viewing locations for this week’s hybrid solar eclipse are in Australia and parts of Asia. But if you’re not in that part of the world, you can watch a live stream of the eclipse online.

Safety

Folks watching online will be just fine, but if you’re viewing the eclipse in person, be sure to follow all the appropriate safety tips laid out by NASA or you could risk permanent damage to your eyesight.

How to watch

NASA’s live stream will begin at 7:30 p.m. PT on Wednesday, April 19, and the maximum eclipse will occur at 9:16 p.m. PT.

You can watch it on the video player embedded at the top of this page or by visiting NASA’s YouTube channel. The space agency will share live telescope views of the rare phenomenon, with experts on hand to talk more about it.

If you’re watching from Australia, the eclipse will take place on Thursday, April 20, local time. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation offers a comprehensive breakdown of timings for different locations across the country.

Editors' Recommendations

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
How to watch ISS astronauts install a new solar array tomorrow
NASA astronaut and Expedition 69 Flight Engineer Steve Bowen is pictured outside the International Space Station during his eighth career spacewalk, during which he routed cables and installed insulation to ready the orbital outpost for its next set of roll-out solar arrays.

Tomorrow, Thursday, June 15, two astronauts will head out of the confines of the International Space Station (ISS) to perform a spacewalk. They'll be working on the exterior of the station to install a new solar panel as part of a long-term project to upgrade the station's power system.

Spacewalk with Astronauts Steve Bowen and Woody Hoburg (June 15, 2023) (Official NASA Broadcast)

Read more
How to watch two U.S. astronauts on a spacewalk at the ISS on Friday
Astronaut on spacewalk

NASA Live: Official Stream of NASA TV

NASA is making final preparations for the seventh spacewalk to take place at the International Space Station (ISS) this year.

Read more
How to watch NASA’s private mission arrive at space station
SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft.

NASA Live: Official Stream of NASA TV

A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule is currently flying NASA’s second all-private mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

Read more