'Partial' solar eclipse set to happen on September 21 will be visible in parts of Oceania. Here’s how to watch it
On September 21, 2025, a "partial" solar eclipse will take place, witnessed by possibly around 16 million people. Experts claim that in this eclipse, the moon will cover around 80 percent of the Sun, according to IFLScience. Not all people, though, will be able to experience this extent of eclipse. Most will be able to witness the eclipse to just a ten percent extent. Experts claim that the best place to watch this solar eclipse will be in New Zealand. Time and Date will run a live telecast of this eclipse on their YouTube channel. However, if someone wants to experience it firsthand, they can do so in certain locations, after following some precautions.
Where can People Watch this Eclipse?
The partial solar eclipse will be visible across Pacific islands, along with parts of Australia and Antarctica, according to Space.com. The first glimpse of this eclipse will occur at 1:29 p.m. EDT (1729 GMT) on September 21, as per experts. For people in Samoa, the beginning will appear like the moon grazing the upper right region of the solar disk. As time goes on, more of the moon will cover the disk, with the best visuals reserved for a vast region of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing New Zealand, Fiji, and a host of smaller islands. Researchers expect that by the end of the partial eclipse, the Sun will look like a radiant crescent.
The eclipse will reach its maximum extent by 3:41 p.m. EDT (1941 GMT). At first, the maximum extent will appear above a largely uninhabited patch of the Pacific Ocean. Then, it will slowly reach places like New Zealand and Antarctica. During the maximum stage, some light may seem to come through small gaps. It could give an illusion of multiple crescents. New Zealand and Antarctica are the best places for the maximum stage. The final glimpse of this eclipse will occur over an isolated peninsula of the Antarctic at 5:53 p.m. ET (2153 GMT). Considering the state of the island, it can be said that wildlife will be the ones bidding farewell to the glimpse.
How to Watch It?
It is advisable never to view partial solar eclipses with the naked eye, according to Space.com. The same principle follows for this eclipse. If anyone wants to view the eclipse, then they must use solar filters. There are special solar eclipse glasses that work as appropriate filters for the September 21 occasion. Before using them, it is vital to ensure that they are not damaged, and one should hold them tightly while viewing the eclipse. They are not like typical sunglasses with firm handles, and hence can fall off, making the eyes prone to ultraviolet (UV) damage. For more in-depth viewing, telescopes are the best for stargazers.
How Many People will Watch the 'Partial' Eclipse?
The partial eclipse would be visible to around 16 million viewers. The most populous city to witness the eclipse will be Sydney in Australia, and that too will experience it for just five minutes and to a one percent extent. So, how many people can catch it is a mystery. Experts believe that the eclipse would be visible to only a ten percent extent to maximum living beings, which include six million people and over 25 million sheep across Oceania.