Partial solar eclipse stuns early morning skywatchers across New Zealand

The GOES-19 weather satellite captured today's partial eclipse. Photo / Te Whatu Stardome

People throughout New Zealand experienced a celestial start to their week as a partial solar eclipse illuminated the skies this morning.

The eclipse was only able to be seen in a handful of countries and was visible between 6am and 8am, with the “maximum eclipse” occurring at 7am, according to Stardome.

Photos show the moon transiting in front of the sun and transforming the sun to appear in a crescent shape.

Te Whatu Stardome astronomer Josh Aoraki told the Herald that Kiwis haven’t seen a solar eclipse “of this magnitude” since 2012 when about 85% of the sun was blocked.

Photo captured of the eclipse captured in Twizel. Photo / Jeff Ng

Unlike lunar eclipses, solar eclipses require eye protection as the sun will “at no point” be fully blocked by the moon, and solar viewing glasses were needed for anyone wishing to safely view this morning’s event.

Anyone who wanted to photograph the eclipse was advised to use solar filter to cover the lens of their camera before shooting to stop permanent damage being done to the sensor in the camera.

Stardome planned to hold a free viewing party on top of One Tree Hill in Auckland, but overcast skies meant the eclipse could not be seen.

MetService released what this morning’s solar eclipse looked like from space through a JMA satellite positioned 36,000km above Papua New Guinea.

The partial solar eclipse produced a shadow as the moon passed over the sun, which was visible on the clouds as a dark, brownish hue.

It’s not the first time this month New Zealand has been treated to an eclipse.

On September 8, a lunar eclipse begun at 3.30am as the moon entered Earth’s penumbra – or outer shadow.

By 5.30am a total eclipse appeared, and the moon was shadowed entirely by Earth as it reflected a coppery red hue.