On April 20, 2023, the world will witness a rare celestial spectacle – a hybrid solar eclipse. The first solar eclipse of the year 2023 is said to offer a breathtaking sight that occurs only a few times in a century. Hybrid solar eclipses happen when the sun and moon align in an unusual cosmic setting, casting their shadow or blocking the sunlight. This year’s hybrid solar eclipse is expected to create a ring of fire visible for a brief time in the Indian Ocean. While some parts of the world will see the eclipse partially, others will witness it completely.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has confirmed the expected sighting of the eclipse. The PMD states that the eclipse will begin early in the morning and end just before noon on April 20, as per Pakistan Standard Time. Unfortunately, it will not be visible anywhere in the country. However, the different phases of the solar eclipse will occur as follows: the eclipse begins at 6:34 am PST, the total eclipse will occur at 7:37 am PST, the eclipse will peak at 9:17 am PST, and it will end at 11:59 am PST.
According to the PMD, the phenomenon will be visible from parts of southern and eastern Asia, Australia and Antarctica, and over the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Astronomers Without Borders, a US-based organisation, have designated April as “Global Astronomy Month” as the month will offer mesmerising sights in the sky.
While the spectators in Pakistan and India will miss out on the celestial spectacle, the hybrid solar eclipse will be visible in parts of the Pacific and Indian Ocean regions, East Timor, Western Australia, and eastern Indonesia. The total duration of the solar eclipse will be five hours and 24 minutes, providing ample time to catch a glimpse of the shadow of the moon as it moves across the sun.
During the event, there will be a transition from a total to an annular eclipse, resulting in some areas seeing the moon completely obscure the sun, while others will witness a ring of light around the shadow’s edge. This solar eclipse will not be visible in the US. However, just a few months after this event, in October, there will be another solar eclipse that will be seen in the western part of the US.
In conclusion, the hybrid solar eclipse that will occur on April 20, 2023, is an extremely rare celestial event. The phenomenon will offer a mesmerising sight to those who can witness it. Although the solar eclipse will not be visible in some parts of the world, astronomers and space enthusiasts will have the opportunity to witness the shadow of the moon moving across the sun, creating a unique spectacle that only occurs a few times in a century.
