Parts of New Zealand will soon catch a glimpse of a rare hybrid solar eclipse.
On Thursday, the moon passes between Earth and the sun, totally or partially blocking the sun from view during what is known as a hybrid solar eclipse.
This hybrid eclipse is only visible from the southern hemisphere, with the moon's shadow passing over western Australia, East Timor and Indonesia.
Exmouth in Western Australia will be the only place in Australia to experience a total solar eclipse. This means the sun will be completely blocked out for 58 seconds before it reappears and a partial eclipse will happen on either side of this.
According to the Australian Government, up to 25,000 stargazers from all over the world are expected to travel to Exmouth to witness the event. The rest of Australia will experience a partial solar eclipse ranging from 81 percent to 5 percent of the sun being covered across the eight states and territories.
Across the ditch parts of New Zealand will get to see the eclipse. The North Island and the top of the South Island will see a very small partial eclipse.
According to timeanddate.com, the partial solar eclipse will be visible in Auckland from roughly 4:34pm Thursday until 5:24pm. The maximum eclipse will be at 5pm but even then this will be barely noticeable with only 1 percent covered.
NASA warns when watching a partial eclipse you must wear eclipse glasses at all times if you want to face the sun, or use an alternate indirect method.
The last hybrid solar eclipse was in 2013 and the next will be in 2031.
