Mid West and Gascoyne to witness partial solar eclipse

Parts of the Mid West and the Gascoyne will today witness a partial solar eclipse when the moon will pass in front of the sun.

The eclipse will happen in Geraldton between 1.14pm and 2.31pm and in Carnarvon between 12.50pm and 2.51pm.

The moon will just skim past the outer limb of the sun.

About three per cent of the sun will be blocked by the moon in Geraldton and about 10 per cent in Carnarvon.

Well-respected Geraldton photographer Ken Lawson, who specialises in astrophotography, said viewers would only see a “very minimal” eclipse.

“You have to be way, way up north to see the partial eclipse. In fact, very little of Australia will see it,” Mr Lawson said.

“It’s unfortunate for us.”

Astro websites report the annular solar eclipse is happening in a narrow band stretching from Saudi Arabia, through southern India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and out to the island of Guam.

Viewing an eclipse can be exciting — but very risky to your eyesight and skyward lookers are advised to only use approved glasses and not to look directly at the sun.

Another way is to punch a hole in a piece of paper, turn your back to the sun and hold the paper in front of you.

It will cast an image of the sun onto the ground or a wall, which you can view.