Families in Co Armagh have gathered to watch the solar eclipse, an event that has generated “excitement” and is described as a “remarkable astronomical event”. The partial eclipse, visible on Wednesday evening, will see the Moon cover more than 90% of the Sun.
Deepest eclipse since 1999
It is likely to be the deepest eclipse seen from the region since the total eclipse of August 1999 and the last time such an eclipse will be seen here until 2090. The west and south of Ireland are to see 98% coverage of the Sun, while this is expected to be around 94% in the east and north of the island. Some areas of the world, including parts of Spain, Greenland and Iceland, are expected to see a total eclipse.
Packed planetarium
Director of Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, Professor Michael Burton, said visitors feel part of the “cosmic happening”. He said the planetarium in Armagh was “packed out” in anticipation of the eclipse. “What’s going to happen tonight is that the Moon is going to come between the Earth and the Sun, and the Moon is just about the same angular size as the Sun is, and it’s going to just about block it all out and so we’re going to get an eclipse,” he said. “It’s not going to be a total eclipse. It’s not going to go totally dark, but about 94, 95% of the Sun will be blocked out.”
Inspiring next generation
Dr Rok Nežič, conducting science communication and outreach at the Armagh Observatory & Planetarium, said the anticipation had been building from hours before the eclipse. “It is something that can excite you about space because while eclipses are kind of common, to have them near you is very rare, and so it’s always nice to see the excitement around that,” he said. He said he “really hopes” this eclipse will inspire the next generation of astronomers, noting a recent conversation with someone from America who, as a high school student, experienced an eclipse and has been “chasing them again ever since”.
