Ireland\u2019s most prominent solar eclipse in 27 years is expected to be visible next week when the moon passes in front of the sun during daytime.<\/p>\n
The significant partial eclipse, which will see between 94 per cent and 97 per cent of the sun covered on Wednesday, is the first of its kind to be visible in Ireland since August 1999 when 95 per cent was covered. <\/p>\n
Emma Whelan, associate professor of astrophysics at Maynooth University<\/a>, said the eclipse would be visible from about 6pm until 8pm and would \u201cpeak\u201d between 7pm and 7.45pm.<\/p>\n Whelan said the variation in the level of obscurity of the sun across the State meant that a greater \u201cbite\u201d will be taken out of it \u201cmore towards the west\u201d.<\/p>\n The southwest will see higher levels of obscurity, with the likes of Skibbereen, Co Cork<\/a>, and Dingle, Co Kerry<\/a>, seeing more than 97 per cent eclipsed.<\/p>\n Cork, Limerick<\/a> and Galway<\/a> will all see up to 96 per cent of the sun eclipsed while Dublin<\/a> will see a little over 94 per cent obscurity and it will be just over 95 per cent in Waterford<\/a>.<\/p>\n David Moore, editor of Astronomy Ireland<\/a> magazine, said those planning to view the eclipse should check Met \u00c9ireann satellite images to see which way clouds were moving on the day.<\/p>\n Elsewhere in Europe, Spain<\/a> is set to see a total eclipse while in France it is expected to be in a range of 90 to 99 per cent obscurity. Much of the UK will see 90 per cent of the sun obscured, rising to about 94 per cent in southern areas such as Plymouth.<\/p>\n Preparations are under way across Ireland for events scheduled to mark the phenomenon. <\/p>\n Moore said that instead of having a single event in the same vain as Astronomy Ireland\u2019s 1999 Phoenix Park viewing in Dublin, \u201cwe\u2019ve decided to promote the event for the whole of Ireland to watch it from their back garden\u201d.<\/p>\n Moore said the Astronomy Ireland website was \u201cselling hundreds of eclipse glasses a day\u201d and the number of pairs shipped to customers was \u201cin the thousands already\u201d.<\/p>\n