ASTRONOMERS are hoping the weather will play ball as they prepare for a solar eclipse which should – meteorological conditions permitting – be visible from Jersey next week.
The Channel Islands are set to be one of the best places in the British Isles to view the eclipse on Wednesday 12 August, with 94% of the sun set to be blocked when the phenomenon is at its maximum.
A viewing event is being staged by the Jersey Astronomy Club to allow Islanders and visitors a chance to safely view the eclipse.
Neil Mahrer, who founded the club in 1990, said: “This will be the best partial eclipse that we have had in a long, long time – we had a total eclipse in 1999, and this one will see a vast part of the sun obscured.”
The eclipse is set to start at 6.21pm and finish at 8.10pm, with the peak at 7.17pm, by which point the skies will have darkened appreciably. With the sun quite low in the west by this time of day, the Astronomy Club will be staging their event at Le Braye, overlooking St Ouen’s Bay.
“We should a broad view of the western horizon, and there’s lots of parking down there – we’ll be set up by 6pm and everyone is welcome,” Mr Mahrer said.
Club members will be on hand with some solar telescopes and a supply of solar glasses in order that those interested are able to see the eclipse safely.
Mr Mahrer said it was important not to look directly at the sun, with the potential that doing so could cause damage to the eyes, with a particularly serious risk of harm, or even blindness, should anyone look through binoculars or a telescope at the sun.
The new moon occurring next week is also likely to offer a chance, after darkness, to witness the intensification of the Perseid meteor shower – Mr Mahrer said that Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights were likely to be the best days for this.
The Perseid shower is recognised as one of the brightest, fastest and most active of the year, occurring when Earth passes through the debris of the Swift-Tuttle comet, with shooting stars visible up to twice per minute.
Both the eclipse and the meteor shower are dependent on favourable meteorological conditions, meaning there’ll be some anxious checking of the weather forecast towards the end of this week and during the days prior to 12 August.
Forecaster Rob Plummer of Jersey Met said he was hopeful that the skies would be clear.
In a blog post, he said: “Whilst our thirsty [Channel] Islands certainly do need more in the way of rain right now, it sure would be fantastic if that rain could fall in the more opportune moments, and allow the billowing blanket of cloud to be banished when these spectacles are here to behold.”
Should the weather not be favourable, there’s always next time: the next partial eclipse visible in these parts will be on 2 August 2027, while younger Islanders can plan ahead for the next total eclipse in Jersey – on 3 September 2081.
