The last solar eclipse of 2025 will take place on September 21, just a day before the equinox. While this celestial event won’t be visible in India, skywatchers in Antarctica, the South Pacific, and New Zealand will witness a remarkable partial eclipse, with the moon covering up to 86 per cent of the sun. Unlike a total eclipse, this will be a deep partial one. The most dramatic views will come from research stations in Antarctica and from southern New Zealand, where the eclipse will coincide with sunrise, producing surreal crescent-shaped dawns. Several Pacific islands will also see the phenomenon, though with smaller portions of the sun obscured. The timing of the eclipse is unique, occurring just before the September equinox — a moment that marks the beginning of spring in the Southern Hemisphere and autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. For observers in India and most of South Asia, the eclipse will happen overnight and won’t be visible directly. However, it will be available to watch via online streams. 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. Across the Southern Hemisphere, the eclipse will present different experiences: in Antarctica, the moon will obscure up to 86 per cent of the sun, though some regions at sunset will see as little as 12 per cent; in New Zealand, the partial eclipse will coincide with sunrise, producing striking visuals; and in the Pacific Islands, coverage will range from 32 per cent in Tonga to 27 percent in Fiji, 23 per cent in the Cook Islands, and 17 per cent in Samoa. While much of the world will miss seeing it directly, the rarity of the event and its timing just before the equinox make it a standout astronomical highlight of the year.
