Limerick Astronomy Club

Hi All,
As I'm sure some of you know by now, there is a total solar eclipse crossing the Atlantic on March 20th, 2015.
With our typical luck in this country, were just off the totality path, some are going up on planes or going to Faroe or Svalbard for it, fair play to them.
For those who are staying here for it, like me, I had a look to see what are we talking about in terms of how near to totality we're going to get to.
This thing is so near us that a trip across the country to Donegal, say Gweedore makes a significant difference.
These are some figures I gleamed from starrynight.

From limerick, max eclipse gives us a 2 arc minute sliver, this equates to an equivalent time of about 4 minutes before totality if you were on the eclipse path.
IF you go to north west Donegal, you get about a 1.2 arc minute sliver of a sun which equates to a few seconds more the 2 minutes before totality.
For those who've seen an eclipse before, there is a significant difference between 4 and 2 minutes before totality.

For me, this is worth the trip if the weather looks good, what do others here think ?

You've sold me the value of going to the North for the gain in time for this one.
I think it's a good idea and also a good idea to see what other members think.

This is definetly worth the trip to the north.
I'd guess the best thing is to see what the clubs in the north are doing and meet up with them?
The 20th is a friday, the max of the eclipse is about 9:40, so i'd guess the best option is to head up thursday?

Ya you'd want to do that all right. Stay somewhere near the observing site.
Was looking around in Google Earth and Stellarium, we need obviously a good SE horizon as far N as possible.

I was up in bushmills last week.
Lots of places to stay there, and lots of coast nearby with dramatic scenery to use as a backdrop to any photos:
https://www.google.ie/maps/@55.2369478, ... Q!2e0!3e11

Yea, the North cost is littered with hotels, accommodation is not going to be a problem, what will be a problem will be the decision to go or stay put, a critical decision.
You could go up to the Giant's Causeway , but to be honest I'm not sure I want to be that far east, aren't there some fab cliff tops in donegal that have easy car access, given the choice that's where I'd want to be or somewhere on the north west tip of donegal

I was thinking that also.
North West tip facing South East.

I was at this cove a few years back. If I was setting up a shot I'd be doing it here.
https://www.google.ie/maps/@55.3712217, ... U4VkPA!2e0

Looks like a good location,
I'm abit torn between been as far north west as possible and then having to look east for it, the location you picked is as good a horizon as your going to get without going to the east antrim coast, but wow is that a long journey, never thought I'd be north of Carndonagh lol

If you look at the following link and imagine you were is Rosslare, then traveling to where we're discussing halves your distance from the eclipse path !!!, such a pity it misses us
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEplot/SEp ... Mar20T.GIF

Guys,
I've had a good look at a close up map of this eclipse path, and guess what !!, the nearest part of Ireland to the eclipse track is not the giants cuaseway, malin head or west Donegal, its Belmullet in north west Co. Mayo! Its a very close call between it and the north west of Donegal.

In otherwords, this location will show the greatest amount of eclipse as seen from Ireland, no need to go up north, this is 3.3 hours drive from Limerick, of course there is the weather to contend with...

Have you calculated the difference in solar disc coverage between Mayo & Malin (and Lough Gur)
It'd be interesting to see the differences visually.
You'll not be at lough Gur then?

I'll be at LG if the weather good, I'll travel if for some reason it's looking better further up north

Hi,
I'm sure all of you are keeping an eye on the weather forecasts, it looking bad up north, better the further south you go, so I'm still hoping we'll get to see something

An interesting article
http://www.theweathernetwork.com/uk/new ... ast/47171/

Interesting. Let's start praying now

I'll be talking to Clare FM about the eclipse at 9:45 on thursday morning, if anyone wants to be entertained.