Sky Matters: Two eclipses this month — how to see the blood moon lunar eclipse on Friday
Unlike lunar eclipses, which are perfectly safe to view with the unaided eye or with a telescope or binoculars, a solar eclipse must NEVER be viewed without the right equipment.
If February was the month when the world worried about the possible collision with a 'city killer' asteroid in 2032, then March will be the month when we turn our attention to eclipses. Two to be precise. And we can do so knowing that the 'city killer' asteroid is no longer a concern, as new data shows its chances of hitting us are much less than 1%.
The first eclipse will be a lunar one, when the Earth casts its shadow onto the moon. This will occur in the early hours of March 14.
The eclipse is likely to become visible around 5:20am, with a small bite being taken out of the left-hand-side of the Moon.
By 6:26am the eclipse will cover the entire lunar surface, but the moon itself will only be 4 degrees above the horizon (about eight Moon diameters) and so you’ll need a clear view of the horizon to see it.
The farther north you are in Ireland the higher the moon will appear above the horizon. As the eclipse continues the moon will sink lower in the sky and by the time we reach the middle of the eclipse it will already have partially set.
Interestingly, if you were on the lunar surface the Earth would completely block out the Sun and because the moon has no atmosphere to moderate its temperature, there would be a resulting drop in temperature of more than 100°C during totality!
The second eclipse takes place on March 29. This one is a partial eclipse of the sun, when the moon blocks out a portion, rather than all of, the sun.
Unlike lunar eclipses, which are perfectly safe to view with the unaided eye or with a telescope or binoculars, a solar eclipse must NEVER be viewed without the right equipment. You can use a pinhole in a piece of card to project the sun onto a flat grey/white surface. Projecting through a pinhole is a great way to allow a group to observe the event together and it can be great fun to watch as the Moon slowly 'eats' the sun. It’s also free and totally safe.
You can also use 'eclipse glasses' specifically designed for the purpose. If purchasing, be sure to choose a reputable dealer.
The March 29 eclipse will be one of the most favourable in recent times. Not only is it a Saturday, but it starts at the very civilised time of 9:57am when the sun will already be 30 degrees above the horizon and hence easily visible.
Eclipse maximum will occur at 10:55am — what a great way to celebrate your elevenses! At this point the moon will cover 42% of the sun. By noon the event will be over for viewers in Ireland, leaving plenty of time to enjoy the rest of Saturday.
Solar eclipses, even partial ones, can be viewed through thin clouds, and with the unpredictable weather in Ireland this gives us all hope.
If you’re in Cork then you could drop into Blackrock Castle Observatory ( bco.ie) any time between 9:30am – 12:30pm where there will be solar glasses available for safe viewing, alongside specially adapted telescopes which can show the event safely. It’s an event for all ages. And you can be sure of plenty of advice from enthusiastic experts!
The month of March includes the Spring Equinox on the 20th, when the sun shines directly on the equator and there are nearly equal lengths of day and night across the globe.
From the depths of winter when the length of the day was seven hours and 49 minutes, daylight at the Equinox lasts for 12 hours. The sun is also higher in the sky and as a result colours are more vibrant.
- Niall Smith is head of research / head of Blackrock Castle Observatory, Munster Technological University, Cork
