While it’s not a total eclipse of the heart, there will be a partial eclipse of the sun tomorrow with a good chance of Irish people seeing it.
There will be a total solar eclipse in the US tomorrow, March 8th, while it will be partially visible from Ireland and the UK in the evening.
Astronomer David Moore told The Anton Savage Show cloud cover will determine how much of the partial solar eclipse Irish people will see.
“My advice to people trying to watch Eclipse is always, it’s happening overhead, go out and look even if the forecast is for a storm,” he said.
Going to miss the April 8th solar eclipse in the US? If you're in western UK and Ireland, you'll get to see a partial
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“I do remember an eclipse 10 years ago and there was a storm like Kathleen forecasted for Ireland and no one was expecting to see anything.
“Yet we got reports published in Astronomy Ireland of people who got a break in Clonmel for just a few minutes, enough to see and take a few quick pictures.
“Weather forecasts, I’m afraid, are not as accurate as say the movements of the celestial bodies which we can predict to second accuracy.
“We know for a fact the eclipses going to happen – whether there’s going to be a cloud over your head is another story.”
Partial eclipse of the sun
A total solar eclipse takes place when the moon moves between the sun and the Earth, obscuring the planet’s view of the sun.
A partial eclipse, however, takes place when a small chunk of the sun is no longer visible due to the moon’s movement.
There has not been a total solar eclipse visible from Ireland since 1724, exactly 400 years ago, according to Mr Moore.
While the next total solar eclipse still isn’t due in Ireland until 2090, we will be treated to plenty of partial eclipses over the coming years.
Tomorrow, for example, around 8pm as the sun is setting, the partial eclipse will be visible from Ireland.
Mr Moore recommended getting outside around 7.55pm to ensure you can see it for as long as possible.
There is a better chance of catching the astronomical phenomenon from the west of Ireland.
