New Delhi, Sep 21: In another mesmerizing celestial event following the Total Lunar Eclipse or Blood Moon earlier this year, stargazers around the globe are preparing for the final solar eclipse of 2025 set to take place tonight.
As per reports, the event will begin at 10:59 p.m. (Indian time) on Sunday, reach its peak at 1:11 a.m. (Indian time) on Monday, and conclude at 3:23 a.m.
The eclipse will take place just a day before the autumnal equinox, marking the official start of fall in the northern hemisphere on September 22. Astronomically, this is when the Sun is positioned directly above the equator. On this day, Earth is neither tilted toward nor away from the Sun, resulting in nearly equal day and night durations—roughly 12 hours each, with slight variations.
This partial solar eclipse is set to occur on Sunday and won't be visible from India. However, people in regions of Australia, Antarctica, the Pacific Ocean, and the Atlantic Ocean will have the chance to witness the event.
The year 2025 will witness four eclipses: two partial solar eclipses and two total lunar eclipses. The partial eclipse on Sunday night will be the second and final eclipse of the year.
The next solar eclipses are scheduled for February 17 and August 12, 2026. While these won't be visible from India, the country will have the opportunity to witness a solar eclipse in August 2027.
It is worth noting that a solar eclipse happens when the Moon moves directly between the Sun and Earth, casting a shadow on the Earth and completely blocking sunlight. However, during a partial eclipse, only about 85% of the Sun will be obscured by the Moon in certain areas.
In a partial eclipse, the Earth's shadow appears as a dark, distinct area on the side of the Moon facing Earth. What people observe during a partial lunar eclipse depends on the alignment of the Sun, Earth, and Moon. The amount of the Moon's surface covered by the Earth's shadow varies based on this alignment.
