Highlights | Surya Grahan 2023: Solar Eclipse Leaves Skywatchers Spellbound, Check Stunning Images

Solar Eclipse 2023: The first eclipse of the year 2023 - a rare hybrid solar eclipse - took place today. Hybrid eclipses shift from annular to total due to our planet's curve.

Pic: Pexels

The first solar eclipse of the year took place today, on April 20, 2023. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, obscuring the view of the Sun from a small part of the Earth, totally or partially. As NASA points out, this only happens occasionally, because the Moon doesn't orbit in the exact same plane as the Sun and Earth do. The time when they are aligned is known as eclipse season, which happens twice a year.  There are several types of eclipses - Total, Annular, Hybrid, and Partial. "In a total eclipse, the Moon entirely blocks the Sun allowing people in the eclipse's path to see the star's corona – outer atmosphere. Total eclipses are the only type where viewers can momentarily remove their eclipse glasses. In an annular eclipse, the Moon perfectly lines up with the Sun but is farther away from the surface of Earth and does not fully cover the Sun's face. Hybrid eclipses shift from annular to total due to our planet's curve. In partial eclipses, the Moon is not fully lined up with the Sun, only partially covering its bright face," shares NASA.

The April 20 solar eclipse was a rare one - a Hybrid solar eclipse that last took place in 2013. While it was not directly visible from India,  Australia, the Pacific Ocean, East and South Asia, Antarctica, and the Indian Ocean will witness the solar eclipse. But Indians could watch the eclipse on TimeAndDate.com's live stream on their YouTube channel. Many also checked out live streams on NASA's YouTube channel.

20 April 2023

15:32 IST

Amid Solar Eclipse 2023, Fans Remember K-Pop Star Moon Bin

Amid the solar eclipse, some fans remembered K-Pop star Moon Bin, a singer from South Korean boyband Astro who was found dead at his home in Seoul. The 25-year-old was reportedly found by his manager who went to the singer's home Wednesday evening because he wasn't responding to contacts. Police are investigating his death but have so far found no signs of foul play, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.

Solar Eclipse is happening right now and Moonbin left us today. So the Sun meet the Moon  its so emotional for us even I'm not an Aroha  pic.twitter.com/2gaNPdQOr3

— Lems (@ExoPlanetU09) April 20, 2023

15:27 IST

Solar Eclipse 2023: Images From The Philippines

Parañaque is often touted as a first-class highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. Here are images of the sun from the city during the rare solar eclipse:

LOOK UP, SELENOPHILES! 

A rare hybrid solar eclipse graces the skies of Parañaque City on Thursday morning.

Such celestial events happen about once every decade—the last one was in 2013 and the next one isn’t until 2031. pic.twitter.com/iMTNzoOU89

— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) April 20, 2023