Partial Solar Eclipse — Ireland
The Sun,
Interrupted.
On the evening of 12 August 2026, the Moon slides across the face of the Sun over Ireland, carving it down to a thin, blazing crescent. Scroll to watch the alignment unfold in real time.
Scroll to witness01 — What Is It
A geometric alignment of Sun, Moon, and Earth
A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun. In a partial eclipse, the Moon does not completely cover the Sun from your location, so a crescent of sunlight remains visible. The exact shape depends on where you are standing and the local timing of the alignment — no two vantage points see quite the same event.
02 — When It Happens
Late afternoon to early evening over Ireland
On August 12th, from Dublin, the partial eclipse runs from first contact at 18:13 to final contact at 20:05 IST, with maximum eclipse at 19:11 — the Sun sitting low to the west-north-west, so a clear horizon matters.
- 01First contact — the Moon begins to bite into the Sun.
- 02Deep partial — sunlight narrows dramatically.
- 03Maximum — roughly 98% coverage from this viewpoint.
- 04Exit — the Moon moves off and daylight strengthens.
03 — Coverage
0%
Maximum obscuration across Ireland — a wafer-thin crescent of sunlight remains.
1h 52m
Total duration of the visible partial phase, first to final contact.
The sequence is tuned so the Moon misses perfect centre alignment by a small amount. That leaves a thin bright solar crescent, matching an extreme partial eclipse rather than a total eclipse.
04 — Path of Totality
Where the Sun goes fully dark
Ireland only ever sees a partial eclipse. The narrow track of totality — where the Moon blots the Sun out completely — sweeps down out of the Arctic, crosses western Iceland, races over the North Atlantic and makes landfall in northern Spain around sunset. To stand in the Moon's full shadow, that band is where you would need to be.
05 — Eye Safety
Never view the Sun directly without proper protection
- Use certified solar viewers that meet ISO 12312-2.
- Do not use normal sunglasses, camera filters, or smoked glass.
- Make a pinhole camera to project the eclipse onto a surface.
- If using telescopes or binoculars, use approved front-mounted solar filters.
- Supervise children closely during observation.
06 — Local Circumstances & Resources
Verify exact local circumstances before the event
Times and coverage on this page are illustrative. Cloud cover and a clear west-north-west horizon decide what you actually see — so check the live forecast and the official eclipse resources close to the day.