Solar eclipses occur at least twice a year somewhere on Earth, but witnessing one from the same location is rare—sometimes happening only once in a century.
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Solar Eclipse (Surya Grahan) September 2025 Today Live Updates: Although it will not be visible from India, the partial solar eclipse will be visible across New Zealand, Antarctica, and parts of the South Pacific. Southern New Zealand and Antarctic research stations are expected to have the clearest views, while several Pacific islands will also catch sight of the event. Those who can’t see it in person can watch it online here.
What is a partial solar eclipse: A partial solar eclipse occurs when, during the new moon phase, the moon passes between Earth and the sun, obscuring only part of the sun’s disk rather than covering it entirely. Although not a total eclipse, this will be a strikingly deep partial event, with the moon obscuring up to 86% of the sun. Its timing is especially rare, falling just before the September equinox — the moment the sun crosses the celestial equator, ushering in spring in the Southern Hemisphere and autumn in the Northern Hemisphere.
Phases of the eclipse: Stargazers will catch their first glimpse of the eclipse shortly after its global start at 5:29 p.m. GMT, when the moon’s curved silhouette begins to graze the upper-right edge of the solar disk. Over the following hours, the eclipse’s path will sweep across a vast stretch of the Pacific Ocean. As the event unfolds, the moon will slip deeper into the face of the sun, reshaping its familiar sphere into a glowing crescent. At 7:41 p.m. GMT, the eclipse will reach its peak over a largely uninhabited region of the Pacific, with the moon covering most of the sun’s disk. For viewers on the ground, the spectacle can also be seen in miniature: light filtering through tiny gaps — like the holes of a colander or the spaces between leaves — may project small crescent shapes, mirroring the scene in the sky.
Solar eclipses occur at least twice a year somewhere on Earth, but witnessing one from the same location is rare—sometimes happening only once in a century.
Roughly 16.6 million people — about 0.2% of the global population — are expected to witness at least part of the upcoming partial solar eclipse, according to Time and Date.
Unlike a total eclipse, in which the Sun is completely obscured, a partial eclipse occurs when the Moon moves between the Earth and the Sun but hides only part of the solar disk, creating the illusion of a cosmic “bite.” This happens because observers are located in the penumbra—the lighter, outer region of the Moon’s shadow—rather than in the darker umbra that produces a total blackout.
Solar Eclipse (Surya Grahan) September 2025 Today Live Updates: In Indian Standard Time (IST), the event begins at 10.59 pm on September 21, peaks at 1.11 am on September 22, and concludes at 3.23 am.
Solar Eclipse (Surya Grahan) September 2025 Today Live Updates: Skywatchers can look forward to a series of future eclipses: The first eclipse of 2026 will be an annular solar eclipse on February 17, 2026, visible from Africa, South America, the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans, and Antarctica. Later, a total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026, will be visible to observers in Greenland, Iceland, Russia, Portugal, and Spain — the first such event in mainland Europe since 1999. In 2027, an annular solar eclipse on February 6 will be seen from Africa, South America, and Antarctica, followed by a total solar eclipse on August 2, 2027, which will also be visible from parts of India.
Why this eclipse is special: The timing of the event, just before the September equinox, makes it significant. The equinox marks the start of spring in the Southern Hemisphere and autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, adding a seasonal connection to this rare astronomical highlight.
Solar Eclipse (Surya Grahan) September 2025 Today Live Updates: Solar eclipse 2025 date and time in India (IST)
Eclipse begins: 10:59 pm, September 21, 2025
Maximum eclipse: 1:11 am, September 22, 2025
Eclipse ends: 3:23 am, September 22, 2025
Solar Eclipse (Surya Grahan) September 2025 Today Live Updates: The partial solar eclipse 2025 will be visible in:
Antarctica – where up to 86 per cent of the Sun will be obscured.
Southern New Zealand – coinciding with sunrise, producing dramatic crescent-shaped dawns.
Pacific Islands – varying levels of obscuration, including 32 per cent in Tonga, 27 per cent in Fiji, 23 per cent in the Cook Islands, and 17 per cent in Samoa.
For India and South Asia, the eclipse will occur overnight and will not be visible directly. However, astronomy enthusiasts can watch it through online live streams.
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