Following the November 3 Solar Eclipse in Google Earth

Sunday brings a bit of a rare event, with a “hybrid” solar eclipse for much of the world to see.  Most solar eclipses are either a “total” or “annular” eclipse, but this one brings a bit of each with it.

Xavier Jubier has a comprehensive page of eclipse data that you can view in Google Earth, include a KMZ file for the eclipse this Sunday.

You can also view Xavier’s data in Google Maps by using this link.

The uniqueness of the eclipse is described well by Sky & Telescope:

When the Moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth, the usual outcome is either a total or annular solar eclipse. But the event on November 3rd is something of a hybrid. At the point in the North Atlantic where the Moon’s umbral shadow begins its dash across Earth, about 600 miles (1,000 km) east of Jacksonville, Florida, an extremely well-placed observer would get to see a vestigial ring of Sun surrounding the Moon’s silhouette for a few fleeting seconds just after sunrise.

Check out their article for more information, use Xavier’s files to see if it’s an event you’ll be able to witness from your house, then head out Sunday to see it firsthand if you’re in the path.