On Thursday, 20 April 2023, Western Australia witnessed a rare astronomical event, the total solar eclipse, that graced the tip of the state in a 40-kilometre-wide track, passing over the breathtakingly beautiful Ningaloo region near Exmouth.
Why is the 2023 total solar eclipse so important?
This event was a remarkable opportunity for Western Australia as it was the only town within the line of totality that could experience the full phenomenon of a total solar eclipse.
The total solar eclipse is one of the most extraordinary natural occurrences and only happens when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking the Sun’s light and casting a shadow on the Earth.
The Ningaloo eclipse was even more special because it was a hybrid eclipse, which means it appeared either as a total eclipse or an annular eclipse depending on where and when it was viewed.
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The name “Ningaloo” was given to the eclipse after the western coast of Australia because it was the best visible area to witness this rare event.
PICS: Breathtaking pictures of the solar eclipse
Although the eclipse lasted for three hours, the full disc of the Sun is now fully visible in Australia and other parts of the world that were able to view it.
While viewers in South Africa were not able to witness this phenomenon, those fortunate to witness the rare event captured these pictures and videos of the 2023 total solar eclipse.
