Ireland solar eclipse: Everything you need to know and how to watch it safely

People across Ireland will experience a rare partial eclipse on Wednesday, with some of the planet seeing a total solar eclipse.

Here’s what you need to know.

What is a solar eclipse?

Eclipses occur when the earth moon and sun line up.

This eclipse will be Ireland’s most significant since 1999 and is so rare that Ireland will not see it again until 2090.

Approximately 96% of the sun will be covered in Ireland with it reaching heights of 98% in Valentia Island, Co Kerry according to Irish Examiner.

When is the eclipse?

According to NASA, the partial eclipse will reach Ireland on Wednesday evening.

Peak time is set for around 7pm, with the event starting at 6pm and lasting roughly 2 hours.

Where is best place to see the eclipse in Ireland?

The west and south of Ireland are to see 98pc coverage of the Sun, while this is expected to be around 94pc in the east and north of the island.

According to Met Éireann, showers are expected to be most frequent over the north-western half of the country, while the south east is set to enjoy the best of the sunny spells on W3dnesday evening.

This means the best chance of seeing the partial eclipse lies in the south east.

Safety concerns

NASA has advised that when watching a partial solar eclipse directly with your eyes, always look through safe solar viewing glasses (eclipse glasses) or a safe handheld solar viewer.

Eclipse glasses aren’t regular sunglasses and no matter how dark, regular sunglasses are not safe for viewing the Sun.

Where can I buy solar eclipse glasses?

Science museums, planetariums and observatories have solar eclipse glasses available and are certainly safe bets if you’re looking for one.

Retailers such as Specsavers and Boots may also have solar eclipse glasses available but it’s less likely this late before an eclipse.

Members of the public are being advised to be mindful of fake solar eclipse glasses if buying from other sources.

Optometry Ireland President and Optometrist Liz Grennan has shared some eye health advice for those wishing to experience the rare event:

• Use certified eclipse glasses or a handheld solar viewer designed specifically for looking at the sun, ordinary sunglasses are not sufficient
• Before use, check your viewing equipment for any damage and replace it if there are any signs of damage
• Children should always be supervised when viewing an eclipse
• View a livestream or check your local area for an astronomy club event
• Use a homemade pinhole projector to view the eclipse indirectly - click here to learn how!
• Never combine eclipse glasses or handheld viewers with cameras, binoculars, telescopes, or other optical equipment, as these devices can intensify sunlight and cause serious eye damage
• Never look directly or point a camera, phone, or telescope at the sun
• Do not attempt a selfie with the eclipse.

Ms Grennan said: “Retinal damage from solar burns is difficult to notice as it happens because it does not cause pain but is not reversible. If you notice any distortion, blur or other changes in your vision attend your local Optometry Ireland optometrist as soon as possible”.

For more information click here.