A partial solar eclipse will grace the skies of Ireland this coming Monday night, with the celestial spectacle commencing near sundown, which is 7:55pm. As the evening progresses, the moon will gradually progress across the sun, leading to the perception of a piece of the sun being “chipped away,” stated David Moore, chairman of Astronomy Ireland. He further explained that depending on the viewer’s location, this lunar obscuration of the sun could cover up to a third of the sun on the east coast and half on the west before the sun ultimately sets.
Mr Moore advised enthusiasts to select viewing spots with a clear western skyline for maximal viewing pleasure of this cosmic event, suggesting that the ideal locations would be hilltops with a clear view of the sea. If weather wasn’t a restricting factor, he even whimsically suggested that the perfect spot would be on one of the western coastal mountains, such as Croagh Patrick.
Partial solar eclipses, while a fascinating celestial occurrence, are not extremely rare, occurring roughly every 18 months to two years as per Mr. Moore. In contrast, “total” solar eclipses, where the moon completely obscures the sun, are a much less frequent phenomenon. The opportunity to witness this event is coming up soon for regions of the United States, Mexico, and eastern Canada this Monday. Conversely, the last time such an event was visible from Ireland was in 1724, exactly four centuries ago. It has been predicted that the next total solar eclipse on Irish soil won’t occur until 2090, demonstrating how rare these events truly are; a stationary observer on earth would only witness an eclipse once every 400 years, as someone deduced.