Moon to lop top of sun in partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan)

STARGAZERS are hoping for clear skies today when Melbourne experiences a partial solar eclipse this afternoon.
As the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, it will block out the light of the sun — making it look like the sun has a bite taken out of it.
"It's like it's wearing a baseball cap, just a little dip out of the top of the sun," Melbourne Planetarium astronomer Dr Tanya Hill explained.

With just 9% of the sun blocked out, there will be little effect on sunshine, and most will not even notice the change.
The eclipse will not be visible to the naked eye, and Dr Hill warned it was dangerous to look directly at the sun.
Safe viewing methods include using a solar telescope — some will be available at Scienceworks in Spotswood — or looking at a projection of the sun's image.
The partial eclipse begins at 2.39pm and will peak at 3.28pm, before it ends by 4.15pm.
In Antarctica, the solar eclipse will be annular, where the moon does not cover the sun completely but leaves a visible ring of sunlight around the moon.
"If you've got safe viewing methods it should look quite good," Dr Hill said. "It's all just a reminder that we live in the universe and that we're moving through space."
The next total solar eclipse will occur in August and be visible in such places as Canada, Siberia and China.
Australia will have its next partial eclipse next January and a total solar eclipse in November 2012. Credit: The Age, Images: NASA, The Age