Rare type of solar eclipse forecast in Southern Hemisphere, here's how to watch it in US
An extremely rare type of solar eclipse will occur this week, but it won't be viewable in the U.S. – except over the internet.
This hybrid total eclipse, a type that occurs only a few times per century, will happen starting about 9:30 p.m. EDT Wednesday and be visible from western Australia and the South Pacific, according to The Weather Channel.
The solar eclipse path begins in the Indian Ocean, but won't cross – or be viewable – in India or the Indian subcontinent, The Weather Channel said.
The hybrid eclipse is special because some will see a total eclipse, while others will see an annular, or "ring of fire," eclipse. A hybrid eclipse occurs because the Earth's surface is curved, NASA.com said. The eclipse changes between annular and total as the moon’s shadow moves across the Earth.
Hybrid eclipses account for just 4.8% of all eclipses, according to Space.com. Only seven of them are expected to take place in the 21st century, the site says.
By the way, it's less than a year before a total solar eclipse will cross the U.S., Mexico, the United States and Canada.
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What time is the solar eclipse this month?
The hybrid solar eclipse viewable in Australia, Timor-Leste and Indonesia (West Papua and Papua), begins about 10 p.m. EDT Wednesday and ends about 2 a.m. EDT Thursday, according to news site EarthSky.
The total eclipse, which will last 1 minute and 16 seconds, will be best seen off the coast of Timor at about 12:15 a.m. EDT Thursday, the site says.
The largest population center in Western Australia to see the eclipse in its totality is Exmouth, located on the North West Cape. It will get 57 seconds of total eclipse beginning at 11:29 a.m. local time, according to Space.com.
At the same time, a partial solar eclipse will be visible in Australia, New Zealand, southeast Asia, East Indies, and the Philippines beginning about 9:30 p.m. EDT Wednesday and ending at 3 a.m. EDT Thursday, according to EarthSky.
How can I watch the hybrid eclipse in the U.S.?
TimeAndDate.com will host a live stream of the eclipse on their YouTube channel beginning at 9:30 p.m. EDT on April 19.
The site has a map of the eclipse on its website.
The last hybrid solar eclipse occurred in November 2013, according to The Weather Channel. The next one occurs in November 2031 and another not until March 2164.
Follow Mike Snider on Twitter: @mikesnider.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: April 20 solar eclipse: A rare hybrid eclipse is happening this week
