A ‘very rare’ supermoon eclipse will be visible in Ireland on Wednesday

A partial eclipse of a supermoon will be visible in Irish skies during the early hours of Wednesday morning. 

David Moore, editor of Astronomy Ireland magazine, is encouraging people to take the day off work to experience the event. 

"It’s well worth staying up for," he said, adding that no special equipment is required to observe the eclipse - just the naked eye will do, though binoculars could provide a more detailed view.

This particular supermoon is also known as a "harvest moon," a term for the full moon closest to the start of autumn. 

Not only will it be larger and brighter than usual, but the supermoon will coincide with a partial lunar eclipse, making the event especially rare. 

During the eclipse, the Earth's shadow will pass across the surface of the moon, giving the illusion that a large, dark "bite" has been taken out of it.

The partial eclipse is set to peak around 3:44 a.m., when the shadow will be most prominent. 

Adding to the excitement, weather conditions across Ireland are forecasted to be great for viewing. 

Met Éireann has predicted mostly clear skies, with only some isolated patches of mist or fog. 

Overnight temperatures are expected to range between 6 and 11 degrees Celsius, accompanied by light easterly or variable breezes.

For those eager to capture this rare moment, even a smartphone will work to photograph the eclipse. 

Astronomy Ireland is encouraging the public to submit their best images of the supermoon eclipse, captured from locations across Ireland. 

Selected photographs will be featured in a special report in the next issue of the magazine. Details for submission can be found on the society’s website, Astronomy.ie.

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