ASTRONOMY Ireland is selling thousands of special glasses for last night’s solar spectacular over Donegal.
Sky watchers have been told that the eclipse tomorrow will be the best in the county for 27 years since 1999 and there will not be another like it for another 64 years until 2090.
Astronomy Ireland’s eclipse glasses allow people to enjoy the generational experience.
Photographer Treasa Frazer, from Lifford, founded Donegal Dark Sky and plans to get incredible images from the rare celestial event.
Experts say it will be the deepest partial solar eclipse in almost three decades.
Tomorrow evening, from around 6.17pm to 7.12pm, the moon is due to pass directly between the Earth and the Sun, obscuring around 90 per cent of the sun.
Tréasa expects Donegal to see around 93 to 95 per cent coverage of the sun and warned “there is never a safe time to look directly at the sun”.
Experts claimed there will not be another deep solar eclipse of the same scale over Ireland until September 23, 2090, when a total solar eclipse is calculated to be visible.
Their advice of when to watch the eclipse in decades includes important safety tips.
A spokesperson for 365 Astronomy said: “The most dramatic point will be around 7pm, when the Moon is covering the greatest proportion of the sun.”
“This is a partial eclipse, so the sun will not disappear completely from view we will not experience the dramatic darkness associated with totality.
“People might expect 90 per cent or more of the sun being covered to make it feel like night, but that final portion of the sun makes a huge difference.
“Even when only a small fraction of the sun remains visible, it is still extremely bright.
“You may notice the daylight becoming noticeably dimmer and the atmosphere taking on an unusual quality, but it won’t suddenly become pitch black.
“This is also why it is important not to underestimate the brightness of the remaining sunlight. A partial eclipse is every bit as dangerous to look at directly as an ordinary sun.”
He added: “The most important thing is to never look directly at the sun without proper solar eye protection.
“Ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, do not provide anything close to the protection required.
“If you’re using binoculars or a telescope, extra care is needed.
“Never look at the sun through an unfiltered telescope, binoculars or camera, as the concentrated sunlight can cause severe and permanent eye damage.
“Equipment must have a suitable solar filter designed specifically for safe solar observation.
“This eclipse is a fantastic opportunity for families and people who may never normally take an interest in astronomy to experience a major celestial event.
“Just make safety the first priority, and the eclipse should be an unforgettable sight.”