IRISH ASTRONOMY FANS will be treated to a rare eclipse of the moon just after midnight tonight.
David Moore, editor of Astronomy Ireland magazine said we saw a “similar, but poorer eclipse, last September”. It was still “quite spectacular to the naked eye,” however, and Moore said this means tonight’s eclipse should be an excellent sight for everyone in the country.
The eclipse officially begins at 10.34pm but the dimming on the top edge of the moon will not be detectable with the naked eye until after 11pm, possibly from 11.30pm. Mid-eclipse is at 12.44am.
“You don’t need a telescope or binoculars to see this event so everyone in Ireland should be able to see the eclipse,” Moore said. “Even if it is cloudy, you should keep checking the sky all evening as all you need is a tiny break in the clouds for a few seconds to see the eclipse.”
Those in the Leinster area are being invited to the Astronomy Ireland headquarters, which has some of the largest telescopes in Ireland, tonight to view the event. It is free and there will be free tea, coffee and biscuits to keep everyone warm.
The magazine is also asking people who catch a glimpse of the eclipse to email pictures and descriptions for publication in the next edition.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say