Solar Eclipse Wed 12 August 2026 

Live Photos from Roestown Conservatory

• Eclipse visible over Meath

Lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon

On Wednesday 12 August we will have a solar eclipse. For about two hours just after 6pm, the Moon will move in front of the Sun and its shadow race across Ireland – a rare event at any location and one that Ireland will not see again until 2090.

So what is a solar eclipse? Though the Moon’s orbit about Earth is tilted, every 18 months or so the Sun, Moon and Earth align, where the Moon’s shadow then falls upon Earth. By cosmic coincidence, the Moon’s width is 1/400th that of the Sun but it is also 400 times closer so that during alignment the Moon covers the Sun immaculately from our viewpoint, causing an eclipse. The shadow cast onto Earth has two parts – a central umbra that over several hours sweeps a path along Earth’s surface within which the eclipse is total. The wider penumbra shadow delivers a partial eclipse.

In Ireland, as with other parts of Europe and western Africa, it will be a partial eclipse – “a unique lifetime experience”. People all over the country will get to experience the partial eclipse on Wednesday evening, 12 August, as the Moon moves in front of the Sun. 

The event will become visible just after 6pm with maximum coverage of the Sun occurring shortly after 7pm. The Moon is expected to have cleared the Sun by around 8pm.

In Ireland, the west and south of the country should see up to 98% coverage of the Sun, while in the east and north it will be around 94%.

PARTIAL LUNAR ECLIPSE Sun 7 Sep 2025 at 20:00

A partial Lunar eclipse of the moon is set to be visible at sunset 20:00 to 21:30 on Sunday 7th Sept 2025 and visible across Ireland.

A partial lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon, but they are not perfectly aligned and  the Moon only passes through a part of Earth’s umbra (the darkest part of the shadow). The shadow appears to grow and then recede without ever fully covering the Moon.The Moon can take on a red or orange colour with the way the Earth’s atmosphere scatters sunlight.

Partial Solar Eclipse

Sat 29 March 2025 10 am

Click HERE

A partial eclipse may be visible especially in the west of Ireland on Sat 29 March 2025 around 10 am.

A total solar eclipse is when the Sun’s surface is entirely covered by the shadow of the Moon.

A partial solar eclipse is when the Moon’s shadow only covers part of the Sun. A solar eclipse happens when the Moon rotates between the Earth and the Sun and then blocking part or all of the Sun’s rays from reaching the Earth. It should be possible to catch a partial eclipse from the West of Ireland just before sunset for about half an hour and on higher ground in the rest of Ireland for somewhat less time. The Sun will be low on the horizon and may be set before the eclipse is over. You could see an up to 25% partial eclipse.

If you don’t have solar eclipse glasses pierce a hole using a pin into one piece of paper. With your back to the Sun, hold that paper high so the sun’s rays can shine through that small little hole. Then hold up the another piece of paper in front of you onto which the Sun’s rays will be projected. Don’t stare at the sun with naked eye.

Good Luck and hopefully it is not a SOFT day!