Tourists and scientists from around the world have descended on the small Australian town of Exmouth for a rare solar eclipse, which is set to occur on Thursday. The eclipse is part of a rare hybrid eclipse, which only happens a few times per century. The sky over Exmouth will turn dark for approximately 60 seconds when the moon casts a 40km-wide shadow over the area.
While partial eclipses will be visible in other parts of the Asia-Pacific, people living in Western Australia, Timor-Leste, and West Papua will have the best views. However, only those on the Exmouth Peninsula will experience the total solar eclipse, which will occur at 11:27 am local time.
Exmouth, a town of just under 3,000 people located 1,200 kilometers north of Perth, has seen its population expand sevenfold as keen stargazers flock to the area for the event. The town is situated in one of the best vantage points on Earth for viewing the eclipse.
The eclipse begins in the Indian Ocean at sunrise and ends at sunset in the Pacific. Observers at different points in the path of the eclipse will be able to see its different phases, with some seeing a total solar eclipse and others seeing an annular solar eclipse, where the moon does not completely block the whole sun.
The last hybrid solar eclipse occurred in November 2013, and NASA expects the next one to take place in 2031. This eclipse has drawn thousands of people to Exmouth, providing a unique opportunity for tourists and scientists to witness a rare and spectacular natural event.
