You still have time to get eclipse points. Only approved goggles absorb visible, ultraviolet and infrared light at the correct wavelength. How to find a reliable partner: You must:
Purchased from a trusted seller to make sure they are not fake.
Show the correct security certificate (ISO 12312-2).
No scratches, cracks or other damage.
Adjust your face so that no gaps are visible through it (make sure your regular glasses fit if you need them for normal vision).
Check this by looking at the lamp or bulb; Sunlight can only be seen through real Eclipse goggles. This test poses no risk of eye damage if the above steps are followed.
Our live broadcast from the sky will start in 30 minutes, so stay tuned. In the meantime, we'll talk about the Shadow Serpent, Cosmos, the Crown, and the Underground Sun Eater.
When can you see a solar eclipse
The full path of the eclipse will descend from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, mostly over water. For those watching a total solar eclipse, it lasts just over a minute.
A partial solar eclipse, albeit a short one, will be visible to many more people - here's where and when it can be seen from cities in Australia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia and New Zealand (UTC):
What is a "hybrid solar eclipse"?
Hybrid eclipses are rare: there have been few of them in the last 100 years. As the name suggests, the alignment of the Sun, Moon and Earth today means that eclipses will be a combination of two types: annular or total, depending on where you are in relation to the Moon.
Tanya Hill, senior curator of astronomy at the Victorian Museum, told colleague Donna Lou :
“It all starts with an annular solar eclipse in the Indian Ocean where the moon is too small to completely cover the sun and there is a ring of sunlight around the dark moon,” he said.
“By the time the Moon's shadow reaches the Earth, there will be a total solar eclipse; now the moon seems big enough to completely cover the sun.”
Where and when to see a solar eclipse in Australia
In Australia, a total solar eclipse can only be seen by lucky viewers in the state of Western Australia. The moon's inner shadows will fall outside of an area that is completely covered in other parts of the country. In other states, the event is a partial solar eclipse when the sun is only partially covered.
Here is a breakdown of eclipse times for Australian cities:
Here is our full explanation of when, where and how to safely see a solar eclipse in Australia:
first resume
Today is the day: The Earth, Moon and Sun will align perfectly and cause a rare total solar eclipse called a hybrid eclipse. This phenomenon rarely occurs once every 100 years.
People in Australia, East Timor and parts of Indonesia have the best view: sometimes the mood changes completely when the sky is clear.
But somehow it will be seen in Australia, and Indonesia, and New Zealand, and Vietnam, and the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea.
My name is Helen Sullivan and I bring you the latest news. Before you begin: The same rule applies today as any other day: don't look directly at the sun unless you're looking through safe material. Eclipse goggles (ISO number 12312-2) are best suited.
You can also see through a camera obscura, filter, or welding mask if you have any of these items.
Stay tuned for timings, the reaction of eclipse watchers, and the weirder things you can expect, including semi-circular disco ball lights and, even more ominously, "shadow snakes."
And send your photos, comments, and questions to @helenrsullivan on Twitter or email: helen.sullivan@theguardian.com.
