Everything you need to know ahead of Wednesday’s eclipse in Ireland.
By now you’ve likely heard that we’re expected to experience a solar eclipse, the first since across mainland Europe since 1999, on Wednesday, August 12th.
It’s also expected to be Ireland’s largest eclipse visible from Ireland until 2090, so it’s only natural that you’ll want to experience it for yourself.
What will happen?
During the eclipse, around 96% of the Sun is expected to be covered by the Moon at the maximum eclipse. The eclipse is expected to begin at 6.15pm and reach maximum at 7.13pm, ending at 8.08pm.
How can I see it?
It’s important to view the eclipse correctly to avoid permanent eye damage, as looking directly at the sun during an eclipse can severely damage your eyes. The most straightforward way to view the eclipse is through eclipse sunglasses, which can be bought online. To note, normal sunglasses will not work and looking at it through them can still cause eye damage.
If you don’t own eclipse glasses there a couple of other methods to see the eclipse.
Firstly, you can view the sun by making a small hole on a piece of paper and stand with your back to the sun. Hold a second piece of card behind the paper with the hole and the sun should be visible on the card.
You can also take a colander from the kitchen and stand with your back to the sun. Hold a piece of paper and project the light onto it, watch as the shadows turn from circles to crescent shapes as the Moon blocks the Sun.
Lastly, if you don’t have anything with you, you can simply use your hands by crossing your hands and overlapping your fingers like a grid or waffle pattern. Turning from the sun cast your hands to the ground to create a shadow and watch the shapes change.
Where in Ireland can I see it best?
In Ireland, the further south-west you go, the more coverage you will see. This means that those in the south-western tip of Ireland in County Cork and Kerry will see around 97.5% coverage.
Those in the Mizen Head and Dingle Peninsula will likely see it best as it offers a wide-open horizon on the Atlantic to the west. The same applies to those in Cork near the sea, heading towards it will offer best views. For those in Cork city, St. Patrick’s Hill will offer an elevated urban viewpoint. In Dublin, places like the Phoenix Park offers flat and vast open plains to get a good view, with other spots in the city like Howth Head and Killiney Hill giving watchers elevated coastal lookouts to take it in.
