Solar Eclipse 2025: When and how to watch the last Surya Grahan of the year in India and other countries

Solar eclipse is a notable astronomical event, visible mainly in the Southern Hemisphere on 21 September 2025. During this eclipse, the Moon moves between Earth and the Sun, blocking a portion of the Sun’s disk and creating a distinctive crescent-shaped Sun. Unlike total eclipses, only part of the Sun is obscured, offering a safe and observable example of penumbral shadow formation. This event highlights key scientific concepts, including orbital mechanics, celestial alignment, and the geometry of shadows, as the Moon’s position relative to Earth determines the eclipse’s visibility and coverage. Observers in locations such as New Zealand, eastern Australia, and parts of the South Pacific will witness varying degrees of obscuration, making it an excellent opportunity to study the precise movements of celestial bodies.The September 21, 2025 partial solar eclipse is one of the significant solar events of 2025. During this phenomenon, the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, obscuring a portion of the Sun’s disk and creating a crescent-shaped appearance. Visible primarily in the Southern Hemisphere, including New Zealand, eastern Australia, and parts of the South Pacific, this eclipse provides a unique opportunity to observe orbital mechanics, shadow geometry, and solar illumination changes. Occurring just before the September equinox, it also demonstrates how Earth’s tilt and rotation influence the Sun’s apparent position, making it a valuable event for scientific observation and study.A partial solar eclipse occurs when the Moon’s shadow intersects Earth but only partially covers the Sun as seen from specific locations. This happens because the Moon’s orbital plane is slightly inclined relative to Earth’s orbital plane around the Sun. As a result, the Moon often casts its umbra (full shadow) away from Earth, leaving observers within the penumbra to witness only a partial eclipse.This distinction is important scientifically:The September 21 event is a textbook example of how the Moon’s relative position to Earth determines the type and visibility of an eclipse.According to Timeanddate, the partial solar eclipse follows a predictable sequence dictated by orbital mechanics:First location to see the partial eclipse begin:Maximum eclipse:Last location to see the partial eclipse end:In practical terms, for regions in the Southern Hemisphere experiencing sunrise, these events occur in the early morning, which is ideal for observation. The precise timing allows scientists to calculate the Moon’s angular motion, the path of its shadow, and the Sun’s apparent position in the sky.The partial solar eclipse will be visible primarily across the Southern Hemisphere, with coverage percentages varying by location.High visibility regions:Regions without visibility:Northern Hemisphere locations, including India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, North America, and most of South America, will not experience this eclipse. In these areas, the Sun will appear entirely unobscured.This global distribution illustrates how Earth’s curvature, the Moon’s shadow path, and orbital alignment determine the regions from which a solar eclipse is visible.Despite the global excitement surrounding the September 21, 2025 partial solar eclipse, observers in India will not be able to witness this event. The eclipse is primarily visible across the Southern Hemisphere, including New Zealand, eastern Australia, and parts of the South Pacific. In India, as well as other Northern Hemisphere countries like Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and North America, the Sun will remain fully unobscured.This is due to the Moon’s penumbral shadow path, which only grazes certain Southern Hemisphere locations. The curvature of the Earth and the Moon’s orbital alignment ensure that regions outside this path—including India—will not experience any partial coverage.For stargazers in India who want to observe this eclipse, live streaming and astronomical broadcasts will provide a safe and real-time view of the Surya Grahan as it unfolds thousands of kilometers away.The September 21, 2025 partial solar eclipse highlights the Moon’s precise orbit as it aligns near the line of nodes, providing a practical demonstration of orbital mechanics. Observers can study penumbral shadow formation, with the crescent-shaped Sun illustrating how sunlight behaves when partially blocked. The event also allows examination of solar limb darkening and changes in local illumination, showing how sunlight intensity varies during partial coverage. Occurring just one day before the September equinox, the eclipse offers insight into how Earth’s axial tilt and rotation influence the Sun’s position, particularly in regions experiencing sunrise, making it a scientifically valuable observation opportunity.Observing a solar eclipse safely is essential:Can this eclipse be seen from India?No. India and most of the Northern Hemisphere will not observe any part of this eclipse.How much of the Sun will be obscured?In Dunedin, New Zealand, the maximum obscuration will reach 72%. Other Southern Hemisphere regions will experience less coverage depending on their location relative to the Moon’s penumbral shadow.Why is this eclipse scientifically significant?Its timing near the September equinox provides insight into Earth-Moon-Sun alignment, shadow dynamics, and sunlight variation.What is the difference between a partial and total solar eclipse?A partial eclipse blocks only part of the Sun, forming a crescent, while a total eclipse completely obscures the Sun for a brief period.How can I observe the eclipse safely?Use solar eclipse glasses or telescopes with proper solar filters. Avoid direct viewing or unfiltered devices.Also Read | NASA Perseverance rover discovers turtle-shaped rock on Mars highlighting strange Martian landscapes