Solar Eclipse Visible from Ireland - 20th March 2015

shedweller wrote: »

I went on the ferry to france to see that. Totally worth it!

You wouldn't have any photos lying about on this would ya?

kerry4sam wrote: »

You wouldn't have any photos lying about on this would ya?

I was also on that ferry, the low light level during totality meant a long exposure and with a handheld camera that meant a blurred image. There was thin cloud so we didn't see the outer edge of the corona during totality. We were very lucky to see totality at all, the ship's captain managed to find a spot where the cloud cover was least and we saw the rapidly diminishing crescent, Bailey's Beads and the total phase.

I was more interested in viewing totality through my binoculars than with taking photos which I knew wouldn't be very good - I didn't have a tripod which would have been essential though being on a moving ship would probably have meant blurred images either way. Back in 1999 digital cameras were the preserve of well-off amateur astronomers and in fact it was known as 'CCD photography'.

What I hadn't reckoned on was the appearance of the chromoshpere just before the end of totality which was a bonus. Your eyes haven't become accustomed to the drop in light levels at the beginning of totality which is probably why I didn't see the chromoshpere when the last of the Bailey's Beads disappeared but while studying prominences during totality, I suddenly noticed a layer of pink at the trailing edge of the Moon and immediately knew that this marked the end of totality. Sure enough, a few seconds later we got Bailey's Beads and the total phase was over.

Angelo.J197 wrote: »

Heard about the eclipse on some science page. For some reason nobody seems to know about this as everyone I've talked to appears to be oblivious to the fact it's going to happen. We need to spread the word cause it's such a beautiful thing!

I think you should keep mum and then start panicking when the sun dims saying 'OH MAH GAWWWD! SHE'S GOING SUPERNOVA! RUN FOR YOU LIVES!'

I'm sure the irony wouldn't be lost on some..

Superb photo,

Great photo shedweller, I'd guess a 300mm lens and obviously a tripod?

As the others will notice, you can't see the outer (usually jagged) edge of the corona as we were viewing totality through thin cloud so the outer edges are more fuzzy than jagged. I remember those prominences which were clearly visible and which looked superb in binoculars.

Where to get suitable glasses in Dublin?

corny wrote: »

Whats the highest point in Ireland?:cool:

You could try Google :rolleyes:

I've heard of one group in Ireland charging €10 for a pair of shades ... and €10 on top of that if you want to attend their viewing session. That is really taking advantage of people and damages the public perception of astronomy here. There are many amateur astronomers who freely offer their services to promote the hobby.

There are lots of FREE viewing opportunities for this eclipse in Dublin such as ...

Scopes and Space plus Republic of Astronomy (Facebook group) will be at the Papal Cross in the Phoenix Park ... see http://www.scopesandspace.ie/latest-news

Dunsink Observatory ... see http://www.dias.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6692:partial-solar-eclipse-viewing-at-dunsink-observatory&catid=184&Itemid=106&lang=en

Trinity College Dublin ... see the events tab at http://eclipse2015.ie/

Live coverage of the eclipse via the BBC Stargazing live team ... see http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b019h4g8 (the BBC crew on the Faroe Islands will be with a group led by Belfast scientist Kate Russo and well-known amateur astronomer Terry Moseley).

TimeandDate.com have an animation at http://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/ireland/dublin and also some safety tips at http://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/eclipse-tips-safety.html


Professor Ralph Chou's article at http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEhelp/safety2.html is required reading about the dangers of using unsafe solar filter material.

See also the Sky & Telescope article by Ralph Chou at http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/solar-filter-safety/ and Fred Espenak's tests of various filter material (including welding glass) at http://www.mreclipse.com/Special/filters.html

There is some information on making a pinhole projector at http://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/make-pinhole-projector.html

See also:
http://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/eclipse-information.html
http://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar-eclipse-frequency.html
http://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar-eclipse-history.html
http://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar-eclipse-myths.html

Some more info at http://www.solareclipse2015.org.uk/

Seanie Morris has created a 5.8Mb pdf document on the eclipse that can be downloaded via http://www.irishastronomy.org/


The photo below is where I used a kitchen strainer to project the partial phase of the annular solar eclipse that crossed northern California in May 2012. In the background you can see where the gaps between leaves on a tree also acted as tiny pinholes to show the partially eclipsed sun. I had traveled with the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers to Shasta which lay on the mid-line of the annular eclipse.




The eclipse was a deep partial from San Francisco and my niece is showing how the solar crescents were projected through the gaps of leaves on trees across the road from their house onto the garage door.




The annular phase is projected using the kitchen strainer ... the light levels really dropped and I surprised at how dark the landscape got for this annular. It was hard enough to make out people set up nearby.



Of course I celebrated a successful eclipse with some local tipple afterwards ...

There's a few discussions in the eclipse thread over on the weather forum Thargor but I'd say our best bet is review the weather prospects closer to the day via the various sites like Met Eireann. Also, the satellite photos will enable us see whether a mad dash around the country to find a clear gap in any cloud cover is required!

John

jfSDAS wrote: »

I've heard of one group in Ireland charging €10 for a pair of shades ... and €10 on top of that if you want to attend their viewing session. That is really taking advantage of people and damages the public perception of astronomy here. There are many amateur astronomers who freely offer their services to promote the hobby.

I think we can all guess who is charging €10+€10 for glasses and viewing session. At €20 a pop they'll be hoping to draw a crowd. The Moore the Merrier as they say

_Tombstone_ wrote: »

Can you not just look at it?

Yes, if want to permanently damage your eyes, you should never ever look directly at the sun when you can help it. Each time you do you are causing more and more damage to your vision.