Hybrid solar eclipse plunges Australian town of Exmouth into total darkness: See astonishing photos
Amazing photos emerge of rare solar eclipse as entire Australian city plunges into darkness – as huge crowds gather at world’s best viewing spot
A small Australian town is plunged into darkness as thousands of tourists gather to bear witness An extremely rare total solar eclipse.
The Western Australian city of Exmouth was flagged as the best viewing spot in the world to see the rare hybrid solar eclipse – the first in 10 years.
Hobby astronomers and NASA astronomers gathered to get a glimpse, with local stargazers wearing special goggles and modified binoculars aimed at the sky.
The total solar eclipse occurred in Exmouth just before 1:30 p.m. and lasted about 80 seconds. Other cities in the country could see a partial solar eclipse.
The move in the sky prompted residents of the city, which has a population of 2,800, to list their homes on Airbnb for up to $17,000 to make the most of the stargazing tourists.
The small Western Australian town of Exmouth is plunged into darkness by an extremely rare hybrid solar eclipse (pictured), the first of its kind in a decade
The state had poured more than $1 million into the small town to prepare for the town’s 80 seconds of fame and a population increase of about 12,000.
One of the observers, a NASA astronomer, jumped up and down excitedly as the moon passed in front of the sun.
“This is incredible, this is so fantastic,” he told the ABC.
“It just looked so sharp and it was so bright, you could see the corona around the sun.
“It got dark, and then it seems like there’s nothing else in the sky.”
Another, a Belgian eclipse chaser, marked Exmouth as the 24th solar eclipse he has seen in his life.
“My first was in the French bowels in the Caribbean,” he said.
‘All [are] different, and this was very nice.’
As the day progresses, more Australian cities will be able to watch the event at varying strengths.
Darwin and Broome will receive a solar eclipse of more than 80 percent, while Alice Springs and Cairns will experience more than 40 percent coverage.
Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane will get a slight eclipse, while Hobart will see just 5 percent of the sun.
The solar eclipse over Exmouth reached totality just before 11:30 am
A hybrid solar eclipse goes between an annular and total solar eclipse in the same event
Gawkers were warned not to view the eclipse directly with the naked eye to avoid solar retinopathy.
The condition can lead to lifelong symptoms of blurred vision and distorted colors, and has historically affected eclipse watchers around the world.
The rare eclipse is a combination between a total eclipse and an annular eclipse, which makes the eclipse look different depending on where you observe it as it moves from annular to total and back.
An annular eclipse is characterized by a reddish hue because the sun is slightly larger than the moon, leading to a visual effect similar to a sunrise or sunset.
A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon is perfectly in front of the orbit, blocking all but a halo of white light.
Stargazers used binoculars with eclipse-specific lenses to see the eclipse firsthand
The state government and astronomical agencies warned that viewing the eclipse directly with the naked eye could cause lifelong visual effects