Eyes to the Skies As Wexford Set for Spectacular Solar Eclipse on Wednesday Evening

Sky-watchers are in for a rare treat on Wednesday evening as a major partial solar eclipse becomes visible across Ireland.

The eclipse takes place on Wednesday, August 12, when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, obscuring much of the solar disc.

Here in the South East, the eclipse is expected to begin at around 6.15pm, reaching its maximum shortly after 7.10pm, before coming to an end shortly after 8pm.

While Ireland is outside the path of totality, a large proportion of the Sun will be covered at the height of the eclipse, making it one of the most impressive solar eclipses visible here in recent years.

Where's the best place to watch?

Weather permitting, the best viewing locations will be places with a clear and unobstructed view towards the western sky, as the Sun will be getting lower towards the horizon during the eclipse.

Coastal locations could therefore provide some spectacular vantage points.

The Hook Peninsula, Kilmore Quay and other open stretches of Wexford's coastline are among the places worth considering, while elevated areas with a clear western view could also provide excellent viewing.

The most important thing is to choose somewhere safe and avoid stopping along busy roads or blocking entrances in search of the perfect view.

Protect your eyes

Anyone planning to watch the eclipse is being reminded never to look directly at the Sun without proper eye protection.

Normal sunglasses are not safe for eclipse viewing.

Specialist eclipse glasses carrying the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard should be used. Binoculars, telescopes and cameras also need specially designed solar filters.

A pinhole projector is another safe and simple way of watching the eclipse indirectly and can be particularly useful for children.

A big night for stargazers

The eclipse isn't the only reason to keep an eye on the skies this week.

The Perseid meteor shower also reaches its annual peak around August 12 and 13.

If skies remain clear after darkness falls, people may be able to spot some of the bright meteors or "shooting stars" associated with the shower.

So Wednesday could turn into quite a night for astronomy enthusiasts — beginning with a dramatic eclipse in the evening and potentially ending with shooting stars after dark.

For eclipse watchers, the key time to remember is shortly after 7.10pm on Wednesday.

After that, it will largely be down to one very familiar Irish variable — the weather.