Cloud likely to obscure eclipse

Weather forecasters have predicted poor viewing conditions in Ireland for today's solar eclipse. Much of the country is likely to be covered in heavy cloud for the duration of the eclipse, which reaches its peak at around 11 a.m.

The event is being anticipated with trepidation in some countries. One Russian in four believes the eclipse heralds some natural or social disaster, according to local polls. In Jordan the leading Muslim cleric, the mufti, has issued a fatwa against watching the eclipse, on the grounds that the Koran prohibits self-inflicted injuries. In Jerusalem prayers wil be said in the al-Aksa mosque during the eclipse.

In Dublin eye specialists issued another warning last night against directly viewing the eclipse under any circumstances.

Weather conditions permitting, a total eclipse will be visible over the south-western tip of England and parts of northern France. The shadow will move across Europe and the Middle East before ending in the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Ocean.

Some five million visitors are expected to view the eclipse in France's "band of totality". Up to 7,500 people an hour were arriving in Cornwall in England last night, despite weather forecasters' predictions that there was only a one-in-five chance of getting an uninterrupted view.

Bucharest is the only European capital to lie within the "zone of totality". At almost 21/2 minutes, the duration of the total eclipse will be longer there than anywhere else.

Met Eireann forecast yesterday evening that the high pressure band responsible for the good weather over much of the country yesterday will give way to a band of low pressure and heavy showers today.

Parts of north Ulster may benefit from a break in the cloud. There is also a slight chance of a break in the southern half of Munster towards the end of the eclipse period.

The Irish College of Ophthalmologists (ICO) has warned against looking directly at the sun at any stage. Its president, Prof Louis Collum, said no product could guarantee protection from burns.

He said specially-designed eclipse sunglasses were unsafe to use because people could damage them by scratching or putting holes in the lenses. Permanent eye damage could be caused by just a few seconds' exposure to the sun.

The Department of Health has advised watchers to "play it safe and watch the eclipse indirectly." Doctors at the National Eye and Ear Hospital have said they are expecting to deal with a higher than usual number of people tomorrow.

Astronomy Ireland, which has supplied thousands of eclipse glasses to Eason's, said it agreed that no product could guarantee complete safety. A spokesman for the organisation said it wanted to minimise the risk for those people "who insist on looking directly at the sun". They say the glasses sold through Eason's are made of black polymer and are much more resistant to damage than the mylar glasses on sale elsewhere in Europe.

However, they advise spectators to inspect their glasses carefully for signs of damage.