SYDNEY: A rare hybrid solar eclipse over a remote town on Australia’s west coast drew thousands on Thursday to witness the event.

Astronomy fans and enthusiasts from around the world travelled to Exmouth, a tiny beachside town roughly 1,200 kilometres from Perth, to witness the total solar eclipse.

The moon crossed the sun for a minute at 11:29am local time (3:29am GMT), plunging viewers into darkness and dropping the temperature.

Thursday’s eclipse was a rare “hybrid” type, not seen worldwide since 2013. In a hybrid eclipse, depending on where viewers stand, the moon either blots out the sun — a total eclipse — or obscures the centre while leaving a ring of light visible, an annular eclipse.

Peter Bartley made a 15-hour drive from Perth with his children and father for the “special moment” together.

“It was a hard sell at the beginning because I told them it would only be for a minute and it was going to take fifteen hours to get here,” said Bartley.

“But it was probably the most exciting minute that we’ve had for a long time.”

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2023