Rare celestial events today
People in Boyle may have a chance this morning to see a rare phenomenon of nature as a near-total eclipse of the sun tracks across Ireland.
It will become noticeably cooler and sunlight will dim as up to 95 per cent of the sun will be blocked out by the moon.
The eclipse is due to commence at 8.30am, peak around 9.30am and conclude at 10.30am.
Forecast is for cloud cover which may inhibit viewing of the eclipse.
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby totally or partly obscuring the image of the Sun for a viewer on Earth.
A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon’s apparent diameter is larger than the Sun’s, blocking all direct sunlight, turning day into darkness.
Totality occurs in a narrow path across Earth’s surface, with the partial solar eclipse visible over a surrounding region thousands of kilometres wide.
Don’t worry of you miss the eclipse tomorrow. You can see it again in 2026!
Also on Friday, two other rare if less spectacular celestial events will be taking place, a Supermoon and the Spring equinox.
A Supermoon, or perigee moon, happens when the full or new moon does its closest fly-by of the Earth, making it look bigger than it normally does.
And the spring equinox refers to the time of the year when the day and night are of equal duration, mid-way between the longest and shortest days.
(image: globe-views.com)