Ireland sees partial eclipse of the sun

Ireland this morning experienced a partial solar eclipse that saw part of the sun blotted out.

Despite the cloudy weather over the country, David Moore, chairman of Astronomy Ireland, said a clear view of the eclipse was seen over Dublin at 9.24am amid “glorious blue sky” as the moon partially passed in front of the sun.

Mr Moore said that at 10.15am, a large chunk of the left-hand side of the sun could be seen in eclipse through a gap in the clouds. He noted that the cloud cover worked to the advantage of viewers at the Papal Cross in Phoenix Park because it dimmed the glare of the sun.

A “tiny sliver” of the eclipse could be seen just before 11am, he reported.

Between a tenth and a third of the sun will appear to be covered by the moon today, depending on where the event is viewed from. The partial eclipse occurred over Ireland and Britain, while a total eclipse will be seen in other parts of the world, including Siberia, Mongolia, Russia, and China.

Mr Moore noted that today was the last chance for to view a solar eclipse from Ireland until January 2011. “The next total solar eclipse will not be visible from Ireland until 2090. The last was in 1724.”

But he added that people could enjoy a near-total lunar eclipse on August 16th, when 81 per cent of the moon would be cast in shadow.

In addition to the Dublin viewing, Astronomy Ireland held eclipse watches in Carlow, Clare, Donegal and Wexford this morning.