The whole of the moon
Ahead of Friday’s solar eclipse, Celine Naughton meets Ireland’s stargazers and finds out the best viewpoints, and why it shouldn’t be missed
STARGAZERS are in for a treat this Friday with the promise of a rare opportunity to catch a glimpse of a spectacular ‘Blood Moon’ during the longest total lunar eclipse of the 21st century.
As usual, the prophets of doom have been issuing dire warnings that a red moon signals armageddon is nigh, but in fact its must-see coppery-red tinge is the effect of a natural phenomenon occurring about twice a year. During the eclipse, as the sun and moon directly align on opposite sides of the Earth, the sunlight that usually shows a full moon as creamy white becomes blocked by the Earth’s shadow.
“The only light the moon will receive will be refracted from Earth’s atmosphere, which will make it appear red,” explains Brian Espey, Professor of Astrophysics at Trinity College Dublin. “It’s worth a look, but it won’t predict the end of days or the second coming.”
With Ireland set to catch only the tail end of the eclipse, the Blood Moon will be visible in our skies for 45 minutes from 9.30pm, provided clouds don’t get in the way.
“We’re crossing our fingers and hoping for a clear sky,” says David Moore, founder of Astronomy Ireland, an organisation going by the proud boast of being the most popular astronomy club in the cosmos. He says it’s no coincidence that we Irish are fascinated by the stars.
“Irish people were among the first humans to observe the skies,” says David. “Just look at the legacy of Newgrange. Our ancient ancestors carved their observations in stone, leaving a cosmic trail for future generations to follow.”
He also points to Birr, Co. Offaly, which in 1845 was the site of the world’s first recorded ‘biggest telescope’. Today Birr Castle is home to a €2 million radio telescope, the Irish Low Frequency Array, or I-LOFAR, part of a powerful pan-European radio observatory.
To get a good look at the lunar eclipse, enthusiasts will need nothing more sophisticated than a cheap pair of binoculars, according to David. And whatever the weather, he’s determined to witness it, even if he has to drive miles to dodge the clouds. “I’ll be watching the weather all day,” he says. “It’s unusual for cloud to cover the entire country, so wherever has the clearest sky, I’ll be there.”
The magic doesn’t end with the Blood Moon, he adds. As the moon starts to come out of the totality phase and return to bask in its usual bright light, we’ll see Earth’s shadow move across its surface.
“You’ll also notice a super-bright object next to the moon,” says David. “This is Mars, and it’s the closest the red planet will have been to Earth in 32 years.”
Stargazer Eamon O’Fearchain will be watching the eclipse through his telescope, which he often sets up in his back garden to observe the rings of Saturn or the moons of Jupiter. And when he’s not observing the sky, the retired civil servant brings the galaxy to the classroom, sharing his knowledge with primary school children through play.
“I get the students to enact the universe,” he says. “They play the parts of the different planets and run around doing orbits in the playground. It’s a fun way to get kids engaging with astronomy at a young age.”
Ann Dunne, managing editor of Astronomy Ireland
Magazine, is hoping for clear skies on Friday so she can watch the eclipse with friends.
“It’s the kind of event that makes me reflect on how small we are and how big the universe is,” says Ann.