A hybrid solar eclipse occurred on Thursday, April 20, 2023. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun thereby totally or partly obscuring the Sun for a viewer on Earth. A hybrid solar eclipse is a rare type of solar eclipse that changes its appearance from annular to total and back as the Moon's shadow moves across the Earth's surface. Totality occurs in a narrow path across the surface of the Earth, with the partial solar eclipse visible over a surrounding region thousands of kilometers wide. Hybrid solar eclipses are extremely rare, occurring in only 3.1% of solar eclipses in the 21st century.
Totality for this eclipse was visible in the North West Cape peninsula and Barrow Island in Western Australia, eastern parts of East Timor, as well as Damar Island and parts of the province of Papua in Indonesia. More than 20,000 people watched the eclipse from the town of Exmouth on Western Australia's North West Cape. Providing infrastructure and services for the visitors (Exmouth's normal population is less than 3,000) cost the State Government of Western Australia A$20 million (US$13.5 million). The date marked a significant moment of astrotourism and tourism in Western Australia.
Portions of the eclipse's path near sunrise and sunset were annular. With the eclipse occurring 4.1 days after perigee (April 16), the Moon's apparent diameter was 1.02% larger than average.
Images
Gallery
Australia
East Timor
Indonesia
Malaysia
Philippines
Vietnam
Related eclipses
Tzolkinex
Preceded by: Solar eclipse of March 8–9, 2016
Followed by: Solar eclipse of June 1, 2030
Half-Saros cycle
Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 15, 2014
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 25, 2032
Tritos
Preceded by: Solar eclipse of May 20–21, 2012
Followed by: Solar eclipse of March 20, 2034
Solar Saros 129
Preceded by: Solar eclipse of April 8, 2005
Followed by: Solar eclipse of April 30, 2041
Inex
Preceded by: Solar eclipse of May 10, 1994
Followed by: Solar eclipse of March 30, 2052
Triad
Preceded by: Solar eclipse of June 19, 1936
Followed by: Solar eclipse of February 18–19, 2110
Eclipses of 2023
A hybrid solar eclipse on April 20. A penumbral lunar eclipse on May 5. An annular solar eclipse on October 14. A partial lunar eclipse on October 28.