Star gazers in the region have another reason to get excited as the moment where an Annular Solar Eclipse draws near.

Dust off your 2012 Solar Eclipse glasses - on Friday 10 May between 8.45am and 8.55am our moon will once again pass in front of the sun creating yet another spectacular astronomical phenomenon.

This time around though, being near its furthest point from Earth, the moon will not be large enough in the sky to create another Total Solar Eclipse.

The path of the eclipse begins in Western Australia, and will travel a total of around 13,300 kilometres taking in areas of eastern Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and the Gilbert Islands.

Closer to home, the eclipse' 171 to 225 kilometre-wide track will cast a shadow that will cross the Gulf of Carpentaria and reach Cape York Peninsula. As it does, it crosses the path of the last year's Total Solar Eclipse.

Lakefield National Park, north-east of Cooktown, has been identified as the best location in the Far North to witness the Annular Solar Eclipse, however, according to amateur astronomer Malcolm McKellar, the Douglas region will still see a darkening of the sky.

"In the Douglas Shire we will be about 200 kilometres south of the southern extent of the umbra, the main eclipse shadow, but we should experience a considerable partial eclipse that should last for about five minutes..." Mr McKellar said.

"I've only ever seen one but it was remarkable. Not quite as dramatic as the full eclipse that we had last year, but still something special."