Eyes to the eyes for partial solar eclipse

Temporary breaks in cloud cover enabled some stargazers to catch a glimpse of a partial solar eclipse over Ireland on Saturday morning.

The eclipse took take place at 11.00am when an estimated 40% of the sun was covered by the March New Moon as it passed between Earth and the Sun.

Unlike a total solar eclipse, there was little noticeable darkening of the sky or visible solar corona.

First contact in the partial eclipse, when the edge of the Moon touches the edge of the Sun, began at 10:01 am.

Maximum eclipse occurred 59 minutes later at 11.00am.

Astronomy Ireland held a Solar Eclipse Watch event for the public at its Dublin headquarters facility.

Saturday’s eclipse comes just two weeks after a total lunar eclipse took place in Ireland.

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the entire moon falls within the darkest part of Earth’s shadow.

The moon appeared red/orange when it is was in the Earth’s shadow.