Days after the Moon turned blood-red during a total lunar eclipse, stargazers are ready for the next celestial event, the partial solar eclipse.
This will be the last solar eclipse of the year, offering a spectacular celestial event visible in several parts of the world.
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, partly or fully obscuring the Sun. In a partial solar eclipse, only a portion of the Sun is covered by the Moon, creating a "bite" out of its bright disk.
This contrasts with a total solar eclipse, where the Moon fully blocks the Sun’s face. The 2025 event, with an eclipse magnitude of 0.855, means approximately 85.5% of the Sun will be covered at maximum eclipse in the best viewing regions.
When will partial solar eclipse occur?
The partial solar eclipse will occur on September 21, 2025.
The eclipse will begin late in the evening IST on September 21 and continue into the early hours of September 22, lasting for more than four hours. Key moments include the start of the partial eclipse at 22:59 IST (21 Sept), maximum coverage at 01:11 IST (22 Sept), and the eclipse end around 03:23 IST (22 Sept).
This partial solar eclipse concludes the series of eclipses occurring in 2025. Earlier in the year, a partial solar eclipse was visible in March, followed by two total lunar eclipses in September.
Which cities will see partial solar eclipse?
The partial solar eclipse will be visible primarily in the Southern Hemisphere, including Australia, New Zealand, parts of Antarctica, and several Pacific Islands.
It will be visible in these cities: Funafuti (Tuvalu), Fakaofo (Tokelau), Mata-Utu (Wallis and Futuna), Apia (Samoa), Pago Pago (American Samoa), Lautoka (Fiji), Nadi (Fiji), Suva (Fiji), Neiafu (Tonga), Alofi (Niue), Pangai (Tonga), Nuku'alofa (Tonga), Vaitape (Bora Bora) (French Polynesia), Papeete (French Polynesia), Rarotonga (Cook Islands), Port Vila (Vanuatu), Kingston (Norfolk Island), Luganville (Vanuatu), Noumea (New Caledonia), Auckland (New Zealand), Wellington (New Zealand), Christchurch (New Zealand), Chatham Islands (New Zealand), Lord Howe Island (Australia), Macquarie Island (Australia), Sydney (Australia), Canberra (Australia), Hobart (Australia), Mario Zucchelli Station (Antarctica), McMurdo (Antarctica).
For those in Australia and New Zealand, the eclipse will be best viewed in the early morning hours on September 22 local time, with New Zealand’s southern regions experiencing up to 86% coverage.
The event will also be visible over vast areas of Antarctica, where it will last the longest. Various Pacific Island nations, such as Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga, will witness the partial eclipse as well.
Will it be visible in Northern Hemisphere?
Unfortunately, this eclipse will not be visible from Bangladesh, India or most of the Northern Hemisphere due to its timing and viewing path.
Much of Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas, will unfortunately miss this eclipse as it occurs mostly over the oceanic regions and polar areas. Timing and time zone differences mean that the eclipse falls outside daylight hours for these regions.
The celestial spectacle on September 21 marks the close of the year’s eclipse events, captivating stargazers and astronomers, particularly in the southern parts of the globe.
Observers planning to view the eclipse should take proper eye safety precautions, as looking directly at the Sun without adequate protection can cause severe eye damage. Special solar viewing glasses or filters designed for eclipse observation are essential.
Source: India Today
Bd-pratidin English/ ANI
