THE SQUIZ
Buckle up – we’re in for a rare solar eclipse today… And by ‘rare’, we mean this particular type of hybrid solar eclipse hasn’t been witnessed in Australia since 1974. Matt Woods from the Perth Observatory – which is live-streaming the event – says it will be a “magical moment”. To get into the scientific specifics… A solar eclipse is when the moon casts a shadow on Earth, blocking/partially blocking the sun. That’s different to a lunar eclipse when Earth casts a shadow over the moon. During ‘hybrid’ solar eclipses, the moon moves in front of the sun and creates a ring of light before moving to a total solar eclipse. They’re particularly special because they only happen a few times per century – making today one for the astronomical history books.

WHERE DO I NEED TO BE?
Eclipse enthusiasts – or ‘eclipse chasers’, as they’re known – will tell you Exmouth in Western Oz is the place to be. That’s where 100% of the sun will be hidden at 11.29am local time. And while a lack of sunlight might not be what people usually look for in a coastal tourist town, it’s a boon for Exmouth. Reports say the WA Government has invested about $22 million to improve the area’s infrastructure for the 20,000 interstate and international visitors (and their intense-looking safety gear) flocking in… The rest of the country’s in for a partial eclipse – here’s a rundown of where/how to see it, but to break it down… In Perth, the maximum eclipse (71%) will be visible at 11.20am, Adelaide (21%) at 1.30pm, Darwin (81%) at 1.52pm, Hobart (5%) at 2.06pm, Melbourne (11%) at 2.09pm, Canberra (10%) at 2.22pm, Brisbane (16%) at 2.44pm, and Sydney (10%) at 2.28pm. Note: those times are all local times.

WAIT… SAFETY GEAR?
Yep, you read right. Before running outside, there’s a bit of OH&S to cover pre your eclipse viewing… That’s because looking directly at the sun can cause solar retinopathy – that’s permanent vision damage in case you’re a non-optometrist – and a regular pair of sunnies won’t protect you. Here’s a good explanation of the type of glasses you’ll need. But not even some routine safety procedures can dampen the day for those in Exmouth – and fortunately, neither will the weather. Reports say that unlike last week’s cyclone conditions, the forecast looks “absolutely perfect”. That has Woods excited – he says clouds are the astronomy industry’s “mortal enemy”. “If I had $1 for every time an astronomical event was ruined by cloud, I could retire at 37,” he says.