Join I-LOFAR and DIAS Dunsink Observatory to watch the partial solar eclipse live from two locations in Ireland.

To get ready for this eclipse, we chatted with some of the solar physics researchers working a I-LOFAR to learn more about what will be happening…

What is an annular eclipse?

When the Sun, Moon and Earth are exactly in alignment an eclipse will occur. From Earth, the light of the Sun appears to be blacked out by the disc of the Moon. However the orbit of the Moon is not a perfect circle. At different times it is closer and further away. When the Moon is closer to the Earth it doesn’t block out all of the Sun’s disc. It looks like a bright ring around the dark disc of the Moon. This is called an annular eclipse.

How often do eclipses occur?

Eclipses occur 2-4 times a year. However most of these are not observable for us because they happen over oceans which make up 2/3 of Earth’s surface. Most places on Earth will only see a total or annular eclipse one every few hundred years.

Why are eclipses interesting for research?

Solar eclipses are an invaluable tool for scientific research. When the Moon blocks out the Sun’s disc the outer layers of atmosphere, called the solar corona, are revealed. These are not normally visible as the lower layers of the Sun’s atmosphere are so bright. In addition, the conditions on Earth (such as temperature) can be monitored during the eclipse.

Why do we study the Sun?

The activity of the Sun, our closest star, can have an immense impact on our daily lives. The effects of large and violent explosions on the surface of the Sun can be observed at Earth’s magnetosphere, most noticeably as aurorae or disruptions to telecommunications and power grids. This demonstrates the importance and necessity of Solar Physics research, especially into the drivers of space weather.

How can we safely look at a solar eclipse?

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