There has been a lot of action going on in our skies, from a rare green comet to Venus and Jupiter 'kissing' in the skies. Hot on the heels of a lovely pink full moon in April, we will soon be treated to another rare astronomical event – a hybrid solar eclipse.
Happening on April 20, the event is sending enthusiasts into a tizzy because hybrid solar eclipses happen only a few times every century. We can count ourselves lucky because the phenomenon will be fully visible in Singapore. Here's everything you need to know about hybrid solar eclipses, as well as when and how to view the rare event.
What is a hybrid solar eclipse?
A hybrid eclipse is a type of solar eclipse that looks like a total solar eclipse or an annular solar eclipse depending on where you are along the central eclipse path. This differs from regular solar eclipses, which appear either total or annular no matter the observer's location along the central eclipse path.
Why is a hybrid solar eclipse so rare?
Many things have to align to make a hybrid solar eclipse possible, such as the distance of the sun and moon to Earth, and Earth's curvature. If the moon is too close to Earth, that will mean a total solar eclipse all along the central eclipse path. Too far? That spells an annular solar eclipse for all observers along the central path. The sun and moon are in a constantly shifting dance, so it's much harder than you think for all these factors to be just right.
Can I see the hybrid solar eclipse in Singapore?
Yes! However, Singapore lies just outside the central eclipse path, so this hybrid solar eclipse will only appear as a partial solar eclipse to us. According to the Science Centre Observatory, the moon will only cover an average of 15 percent of the Sun’s disk at the peak of the eclipse.
Places like North West Cape, Australia, parts of East Timor and Indonesia's West Papua will experience totality – when the moon appears to blot out the whole sun. Other regions a little further from the central eclipse path will observe an annular solar eclipse, when the moon appears slightly smaller than the sun, leaving the edge of the sun's disc visible around the moon.
What time is it happening?
The eclipse is expected to begin at 10.54am on April 20, so get your equipment set up well before then. Expect the maximum eclipse to occur at 11.55am and conclude by 12.58pm.
Where are the best places to view the eclipse?
You can view the hybrid solar eclipse from anywhere in Singapore. But for a safe and close-up look at the event, you might want to head to Science Centre Singapore for its special viewing session. Held at the Ecogarden from 11am to 1pm, the centre will be setting up telescopes for visitors to use – all you need is to purchase an admission ticket to the Science Centre.
Alternatively, you can watch a live stream of the eclipse on Science Centre Singapore's YouTube channel.
What equipment do I need?
Whatever you do, don't view the eclipse with your naked eyes. Sunglasses and window solar filters are also not sufficient and will likely damage your eyesight. Instead, protect yourself with specialised solar glasses which you can purchase from Science Centre Singapore's Curiosity Shop ($5), the Astro Scientific Centre ($5.90), or online.
Using telescopes or binoculars? Be sure to get proper solar filters designed for your equipment too.
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