A total solar eclipse is happening next month. Thousands of people will descend on Western Australia, Timor Leste, and West Papua to witness the rare "hybrid" solar eclipse.
What Is Ningaloo Eclipse?
The countdown is on for the 2023 Solar Eclipse. The Ningaloo eclipse is an extraordinary and rare astronomical event that is a unique event for Western Australia.
On April 20, the moon's shadow will graze the tip of the state's 40-kilometer-wide track and travel to the World Heritage, listed Ningaloo region near Exmouth, the only town to experience a Total Solar Eclipse.
According to Australia's Coral Coast, those traveling to Exmouth will have front-row seats to one of nature's most phenomenal occurrences. A total solar eclipse will occur at 11:27 a.m. when the moon will totally obscure the sun, ushering in 62 seconds of darkness as day gives way to night.
The moon travels 40 kilometers wide across the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area during its three-hour trek across the face of the sun. The only town on Earth that will be on the line of totality is Exmouth. Perth residents will see a 72% eclipse, Geraldton residents will see an 80% eclipse, Carnarvon residents will see a 97% eclipse, Karratha residents will see a 97% eclipse, Coral Bay and Onslow residents will see a 99% eclipse, and Thevenard Island, one of the Mackerel Islands off the coast of Onslow, will see a 99.9% eclipse.
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The Ningaloo Reef, Australia's largest fringing reef, and the breathtaking gorges of Cape Range National Park are both accessible from Exmouth, which serves as the area's northern entry point. Visitors have the added perk of seeing the Ningaloo Eclipse during whale shark swimming season.
The Ningaloo Reef, Australia's largest fringing reef, and the breathtaking gorges of Cape Range National Park are both accessible from Exmouth, which serves as the area's northern entry point. Visitors have the added perk of seeing the Ningaloo Eclipse during whale shark swimming season.
The eclipse will also be visible in Australasia and Southeast Asia. A partial solar eclipse will be observed in the whole of Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
Where to See Total Solar Eclipse?
From the isolated Kerguelen Islands in the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, a 25-mile wide totality trail will be seen. It will pass through West Papua and Timor Leste as it travels and the coast of Western Australia.
Totality will endure for the following amount of time at these prime viewing places along this constrained and very remote path of totality, per Forbes:
- Exmouth, North West Cape, Western Australia: 60 seconds at 11:29 AWST
- Barrow Island, Western Australia: 64 seconds at 11:34 AWST
- Wells Beach, Montebello Islands, Western Australia: 56 seconds at 11:34 a.m. AWST
- Scott Reef, Western Australia: 1 minute 8 seconds, 11:58 a.m. AWST
- West Island, Ashmore Reef: 12 seconds at 12:04 a.m. AWST
- Com, Timor Leste: 64 seconds at 13:21 TLT
- Beaco, Timor Leste: 74 seconds at 13:19 TLT
- Cenderawasih Bay, West Papua, Indonesia: 1 minute 6 seconds at 13:52 WIT
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