Solar Eclipse 2023: Check Surya Grahan Time, Myths, Precautions, Locations for Hybrid Solar Eclipse

Solar Eclipse 2023 Today: A solar eclipse is a rare astronomical phenomenon and a magnificent sight. Each one can only be seen from a specific location. A hybrid solar eclipse will pass across Western Australia's remote North West Cape on April 20. It can also be seen from areas of East Timor and West Papua, an Indonesian province.

The unusual hybrid solar eclipse, occurring today is named Ningaloo. The name of the solar eclipse 'Ningaloo' originated from the name of the Australian shoreline Ningaloo. And it received its name because of its partial visibility. 

According to Time and Date, this hybrid eclipse is a rare type of solar eclipse that changes its appearance as the Moon's shadow moves across the Earth's surface.

Lunar Eclipse 2023 Today: Indian City Wise Timings, When, Where and How To Watch The First Chandra Grahan Of This Year?

Solar Eclipse (Surya Grahan) 2023 Today’s Timing

As per Indian Standard Time, on April 20, 2023, the solar eclipse will begin at 07:04:26, with the entire eclipse starting at 08:07:08. At 09:46:53, there will be a total lunar eclipse when the moon completely blocks out the sun. On April 20, 2023, the partial eclipse will conclude at 12:29:22 after the partial eclipse begins to wane and the whole eclipse ends at 11:26:43. The totality when the Sun is completely obscured, will last less than a minute, despite the eclipse lasting more than two hours.

 Solar Eclipse in India: No, this Hybrid Surya Gahan will not be visible in India. However, it will start at 7:04 AM and end at 12:29 PM as per the India IST Time zone.

List of Cities where Solar Eclipse (Surya Grahan) is Visible Today

According to experts, several regions of South and East Asia, Australia, the Pacific, the Indian Ocean, and Antarctica will be able to see the hybrid eclipse. In Western Australia's Exmouth, the eclipse's totality will be visible.

These list of cities of the world will witness the hybrid solar eclipse:

Chandra Grahan 2023 Today: India Time, City-wise Timings, Sutak Kaal Do’s & Don’ts All You Need To Know

Misconception About Solar Eclipse

MYTH: Eclipses turn people blind

Explanation: This radiation emitted by the sun during eclipses has been researched by scientists for ages. There is nothing in the coronal light that could transcend 150 million kilometres of space, through our thick atmosphere, and result in blindness because it is a million times fainter than the light from the sun itself. 

MYTH: Eclipses do harm to the human body

Explanation: Particles known as neutrinos are created in the deep solar interior, where nuclear fusion occurs to power the sun. Neutrinos shoot unhindered from the sun into space and penetrate the Earth and Moon. No matter whether the sun is above or below the horizon, millions of these neutrinos bombard your body every second. The sole effect is that a few atoms in your body absorb neutrinos every few minutes and change into a different isotope. This effect is completely safe and won't hurt you, even if you're pregnant.

MYTH: One should not eat during an eclipse

The fundamental notion is that total solar eclipses are unpleasant and their eerie green coronae appear frightening. According to some folklore, during a total solar eclipse, some form of hazardous radiation is released that ruins our food or just turns them poisonous. In that case, the food in your pantry or the crops in the field would be harmed by the same radiation too.

So, for this belief either something is missing or manipulating.

MYTH: Eclipses are a bad omen

We have a tendency to recall all the times when two things happen together but forget all the other times when they do not, which is a typical example of what psychologists refer to as confirmation bias. Because the human brain is prone to looking for and memorising patterns that can be utilised as general guidelines for survival, this gives us a prejudiced perspective on the causes and effects that we recall easily.

And eclipses are mere celestial events, which are just common as overtaking a car by another vehicle, and not something to be considered a bad or good omen.

Precautions to have while seeing Solar Eclipse Today

NASA advises the use of suitable filters such as aluminized Mylar, black polymer, or 14-shaded welding glass. A telescope can also be used to observe the Sun through binoculars or to beam a picture of the Sun onto a whiteboard so you can see it during the eclipse.

Some other precautionary measures are:

• Do not view any portion of the bright Sun via a camera lens, pair of binoculars, or telescope without a proper solar filter or it will immediately result in severe eye damage.
• Do not use torn, scratched, or otherwise damaged, eclipse glasses or a handheld viewer. 
• Only allow your kids to use sun viewers under parental guidance.
• Do not gaze at the Sun through a camera lens, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical equipment as the concentrated solar rays will burn through the filter and result in significant eye injury. Even when you are wearing eclipse glasses or using a handheld solar viewer.
• Keep in mind to safeguard your skin by donning sunscreen, a hat, and clothing that is protective.

Is the Solar Eclipse (Surya Grahan) Visible in India? 

The hybrid solar eclipse won't be seen in India, unfortunately. However, beginning at 10 p.m. EDT on April 19 (0200 GMT on April 20), residents of India can view a webcast of the cosmic event on timeanddate.com or via the Gravity Discovery Centre & Observatory's YouTube channel.

Surya Grahan Timings For Indian Cities

Do not confuse these timings in terms of visibility. The Hybrid Solar Eclipse is not visible in any part of the country, and the table below is just to mention the span of hybrid surya grahan.

For your information, the hybrid eclipse before today was reported in 2013 and the next one will happen in 2031. Following that, one must wait until March 23, 2164, for the Hybrid Solar Eclipse. Additionally, the second solar eclipse in 2023 will occur on October 14 while the two lunar eclipses for this year are scheduled for May 5–6 and October 28–29. 

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