Solar Eclipse Visible from Ireland - 20th March 2015

Thargor

http://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/ireland/dublin

The eclipse will be a partial eclipse rather than a total one, but you can expect to get a pretty good view according to the simulation which you can see on TimeAndDate.com. The moon will cover a large portion of the sun, making for a spectacular sight, that should hit its peak at 9.29 am on March 20th. According to the simulation, the apex of the eclipse will look something like this:

Should be good, fingers crossed for clear skies. I ordered a pair of these today just to be ready, Ill be up on Bray Head for it:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171700948489



EDIT: Just noticed something about that Ebay vendor there when I was getting the link:

http://www.ebay.ie/usr/eclipseglasses2015

eclipseglasses2015 (4098)
99.7% positive Feedback
Based in United Kingdom, eclipseglasses2015 has been an eBay member since 27 May, 2004

He's been planning this for 11 years :eek:

mickmackey1

an eBay member since 27 May, 2004

There was a transit of Venus 12 days later... :cool:

namloc1980

Fingers crossed for clear weather - I presume everyone can remember the disappointment of 1999. Saw a partial 6 or 7 years ago which was great.

keith16

namloc1980 wrote: »

Saw a partial 6 or 7 years ago which was great.

For me, it's either full, or nothing :pac:

shedweller

namloc1980 wrote: »

Fingers crossed for clear weather - I presume everyone can remember the disappointment of 1999. Saw a partial 6 or 7 years ago which was great.

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

kerry4sam

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?

shedweller

kerry4sam wrote: »

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

I'll have to do a fair bit of digging. Actual digging through negatives! Leave it with me.

coylemj

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

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!

Taylor365

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..

shedweller

kerry4sam wrote: »

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

Its the only one i have scanned. With a bit of photoshop i managed to remove the worst marks.
That was a truly surreal experience for me. The fact it was almost like a full moonlit night overhead but with a sunny horizon all around.

Kersh

Superb photo,

mickmackey1

Wow that's amazingly good!!

shedweller

Kersh wrote: »

Superb photo,

Aww shucks! Thanks!

kerry4sam

kerry4sam wrote: »

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

shedweller wrote: »

Its the only one i have scanned. With a bit of photoshop i managed to remove the worst marks.
That was a truly surreal experience for me. The fact it was almost like a full moonlit night overhead but with a sunny horizon all around.

Oh wow you found one !

Many Thanks,
Super Capture by you!

coylemj

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.

shedweller

coylemj wrote: »

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.

Thanks! It was one of those 600mm mirror lenses. Terrible for most photography but good for this. There was indeed a tripod as well, along with a cable release. Didnt stop most photos from blurring though! I did one with a slightly shorter exposure and the prominences came out ok. Lovely pink colour to them. Utterly fascinating.

Taylor365

Where to get suitable glasses in Dublin?

mickmackey1

Uh-oh...

Met Eireann
It will become cloudier through Thursday night and Friday with patchy rain or drizzle.

Thargor

Could all change between now and Friday, not worried yet.

corny

Whats the highest point in Ireland?:cool:

Pat Dunne

corny wrote: »

Whats the highest point in Ireland?:cool:

You could try Google :rolleyes:

jimbis

I can't wait, it's such a surreal thing. Even in a cloudy dublin in '99 it was still amazing seeing the light fade so quickly and watching animals (mainly birds) freak out.
Now to try get a pair of solar shade before Friday.

jfSDAS

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 ...

Thargor

What sites are people using to track cloud cover? I see no chance of rain on Friday morning from Met Eireanns 5 day forecast but that doesnt mean it cant be thick overcast like whats out there right now...

jfSDAS

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

Seanie M

Taylor365 wrote: »

Where to get suitable glasses in Dublin?

Check out the thread here - but you have to be quick!

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057397770

Seanie.

Calibos

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_

Can you not just look at it?

Captain Chaos

_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.

Pat Dunne

_Tombstone_ wrote: »

Can you not just look at it?

NO!

TripleAce

Hi,

is there a place in town where I will be able to buy shades today? I won't be able to be in town tomorrow or Friday (live in Bray) unfortunately and I guess it is too late to place an order over the internet. I tried Specsavers and Boots but they didn't have any.

Any suggestion? Thank you.

Thargor

I dont want to recommend them as they're a complete shower of chancers but Astronomy Ireland are selling them for a tenner a pop from their offices in Dublin. IFAS were recently posting them out free to whoever sent in a stamed adressed envelope so maybe try contacting someone over there and see about collection in Dublin for a donation or something:

http://www.irishastronomy.org/index.php?option=com_kunena&view=topic&catid=1&id=100435&Itemid=211

Thargor

Ah crap IFAS are HQ'd in Offaly, might still be a chance if you post before 4 pm today:

http://www.irishastronomy.org/index.php?option=com_kunena&view=topic&catid=11&id=100445&Itemid=211#103501

jfSDAS

TripleAce wrote: »

Hi,

is there a place in town where I will be able to buy shades today? I won't be able to be in town tomorrow or Friday (live in Bray) unfortunately and I guess it is too late to place an order over the internet. I tried Specsavers and Boots but they didn't have any.

Any suggestion? Thank you.

Deirdre Kelleghan is holding an eclipse watch on Friday with the St Cronan's Stargazers in Bray. I'm not sure if it is a public event (i.e., if people can just show up at the school) but maybe drop her a line via the mail address given in the page at http://www.stcronans.ie/astronomy_club.html

John


Free events ...

The Irish Astronomical Society at Dunsink Observatory Dublin
St Cronans Stargazers at St Cronans National School Bray Co Wicklow
Midlands Astronomy Club at Athlone Castle Co Westmeath Cork Astronomy Club at Blackrock Castle Observatory
Galway Astronomy Club at Toft Park Salthill Co Galway
Shannonside Astronomy Club at The Stone Circle Grange Co Limerick
DEISE Astronomy Club at Dungarvan Square Co Waterford
Irish Astronomical Association at Belfast: Queen's University, in front of the Whitla Hall, University Road (in association with the ARC, Dept of Physics) Larne: Chaine Memorial Park, seafront. Newtownards: Scrabo Hill Car Park Portballintrae: Seafront car park

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

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

... and ...

Astronomy Ireland are apparently charging to view the eclipse. I'm not in agreement with this commercialization but if you want to part with your hard-earned cash then their eclipse watch is mentioned at www.astronomy.ie

Thargor

Good post from jfSDAS on this page with more info:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=94731109&utm_source=notification&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=notification#post94731109

EDIT: That guy^ lol.

jfSDAS

Cheers Thargor!

We seem to be thread-hopping to keep both boards up-to-date on what to do for the eclipse :-)

I hope no-one will burn down the Observatory if it's cloudy on Friday morning! (thinking of a Simpson's episode where that might have happened!)

Oh, and another thing, a few media items I've read so far mention this is the first solar eclipse visible from Ireland since that in August 1999. That's not true as in the 21st century we've had a partial eclipse over Ireland in October 2005, March 2006, and January 2011. None were as deep an eclipse though as this Friday's.

Taylor365

I'm just looking for something i can take to work with me so i can stare at it out the office 3rd floor.

Found out about the IFAS offer too late as it would of had to been delivered tomorrow.

Guess i'll just look at the sky go dim

TripleAce

Considering that everybody will be watching the eclipse it and the dangers related to not using shades it should be much easier to get hold of shades, they should pretty much sell them everywhere! Most people won't be able to travel to the main locations and get shades on the day, will just get out of the work place for a hour or so to watch it. I guess it will be a busy day for opticians

franer1970

Got five pairs of shades in January - desperately trying to hang to the last one now.
Perhaps I shouldn't have been boasting so much about how well prepared I was...:D

Thargor

I linked to an Ebay vendor selling them for 2 or 3 quid in the OP of this thread, no excuse not to have them. A lot of papers in the UK give them away for free:

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/special-features/promotions/free-eclipse-safety-glasses-thursdays-5350951

I remember the Irish Sun or someone giving them out in the nineties here aswell, most Irish publications are in poor financial straits these days though so no sign of any offers.

endacl

Taylor365 wrote: »

I'm just looking for something i can take to work with me so i can stare at it out the office 3rd floor.

Found out about the IFAS offer too late as it would of had to been delivered tomorrow.

Guess i'll just look at the sky go dim

Latest copy of sky at night magazine comes with a pair of eclipse shades.

endacl

endacl wrote: »

Latest copy of sky at night magazine comes with a pair of eclipse shades.

Edit: they won't charge you extra for looking up at the sky.

Maximus Alexander

I'm guessing sunglasses won't do?

endacl

Maximus Alexander wrote: »

I'm guessing sunglasses won't do?

They will. If you place 1000 pairs in series.

Maximus Alexander

endacl wrote: »

They will. If you place 1000 pairs in series.

But in all seriousness, is there anything you can mock up at home to make for relatively safe viewing?

endacl

Maximus Alexander wrote: »

But in all seriousness, is there anything you can mock up at home to make for relatively safe viewing?

The free pair of shades with this month's sky at night magazine really is a good option. Any big newsagents.

If you have access to solar filter film from an astronomy shop, you could make your own filter for a telescope or camera? I'll be dusting off mine from the 'total eclipse that didn't happen here'.

Edit: if somebody suggests the smoking the inside of a bottle with a candle method, they're wrong. Also, they're an idiot.

jfSDAS

Maximus Alexander wrote: »

But in all seriousness, is there anything you can mock up at home to make for relatively safe viewing?

Hi Maximus,

Specialised eclipse shades or solar filters are the only safe way for direct viewing of the Sun. The only other method is to project the image as mentioned in the links on page 2 of this thread.

Even with a pair of eclipse shades nobody is going to stand staring at the Sun continually for the two hours this event will last (first contact of the Moon's disk is around 8:30am, mid-eclipse about 9:30am, and last contact where the Moon slips off the disk is roughly 10:30am).

One thing that I thought of is that using binoculars to project the Sun's image will let you see any sunspots being covered by the Moon as it advances across the solar disk. You won't see that with one-power eclipse shades. Check http://www.spaceweather.com for any visible sunspots (there's a daily image of the Sun on the left-hand side of that page).

Look out for any other effects such as how much will the light level drop by, whether there's a change in temperature, and whether shadows cast are that bit sharper (unlikely, as the Sun needs to be closer to 98/99% eclipsed to notice that I'd say).

Good luck with the weather on the day!

John

derra

I'm praying the weather is good, I remember being gutted in 1999 when i was in Spain and missed that event due to it being a bad location where I was. Fingers crossed.

dryan

Maximus Alexander wrote: »

But in all seriousness, is there anything you can mock up at home to make for relatively safe viewing?

i remember the last time i used an good old fashioned welding shield!! worked a treat!

endacl

dryan wrote: »

i remember the last time i used an good old fashioned welding shield!! worked a treat!

Rated at 14 or higher, I hope?