A very rare 'hybrid' solar eclipse will occur on April 20, here's how to watch it

A rare "hybrid" solar eclipse will give viewers the show of a lifetime as the moon blocks the sun over Australia, East Timor and the eastern islands of Indonesia.

On April 20, sky watchers in the region will see the moon's shadow pass in front of the sun, pocketing it like a gold coin in a magic show.

The eclipse will begin at 9:34 p.m. EDT on April 19 (01:34 UTC April 20) and end at 2:59 a.m. EDT (06:59 UTC April 20), according to timeanddate.com.

The sky display is called a hybrid solar eclipse because it is a combination of a total solar eclipse and an annular solar eclipse, showing viewers one eclipse, then the other as the moon's shadow slides across Earth's surface. 

In a total solar eclipse, the moon completely blocks the sun, allowing the sharp filaments of the solar corona to be briefly observed with the naked eye. 

In an annular solar eclipse, however, the moon is just too far from Earth to completely block the sun, creating a halo of burning plasma around the moon's outer edges that hurts the eyes if viewed without eclipse glasses. 

Whether viewers will see the eclipse as a total or annular eclipse depends on their position along the curved surface of the Earth relative to the moon. 

Most eclipse watchers will see an annular solar eclipse, but those who find themselves under a thin track that runs from Antarctica to Western Australia will witness a total eclipse. 

Additionally, two points will show viewers as the eclipse transitions from annular to total and back again, but they are in the middle of the Indian Ocean. 

In Australia, a total solar eclipse will be visible only in one residential location - the small and remote town of Exmouth, which is expected to see crowds of thousands flock to witness the perfect alignment of the sun, moon and Earth. 

The website timeanddate.com will broadcast a live stream of the event.

The next hybrid solar eclipse will appear over North America on November 14, 2031.

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