BCO will be closed on weekdays for major refurbishment works to our facilities and exhibit for the next few weeks. We will be open on weekends at a reduced rate of €5 for all admissions. We apologise for the inconvenience and thank you for understanding. 
March is set to be a very exciting month for any night sky enthusiasts because not only is the first week of the month Irish Astronomy Week, but we also have a total lunar eclipse visible from Ireland on March 14th. March also brings with it the spring equinox (or vernal equinox) on March 20th. This equinox marks the beginning of astronomical spring and the start of longer days and shorter nights, something we can all look forward to. Keep reading to learn more about our Irish astronomical heritage and how you can catch a glimpse of the total lunar eclipse for yourself.
Irish Astronomy Week
Irish Astronomy Week (March 1-8) celebrates astronomy and space science across Ireland with talks, stargazing, workshops, and planetarium shows. Visit the Irish Astronomy Week website for full event listings and to see what’s on in your area. While we usually love to participate at Blackrock Castle Observatory, renovations mean we are unfortunately closed until March 15. Astronomy is very important to our Irish culture and has been for a very long time. Let’s take a look at some of our major achievements and contributions to astronomy.
Astronomy in Ireland dates back over 5000 years, with the neolithic passage tomb Newgrange demonstrating a sophisticated understanding and significance of celestial alignments. On the morning of the winter solstice, the rising sun passes through a small roof box above the entrance and amazingly, illuminates the tomb’s passage and inner chamber. In more recent history, Ireland has made significant contributions to the field, including but not limited to:
- Dunsink Observatory (1785): Ireland’s oldest scientific institution, where William Rowan Hamilton developed quaternions, crucial for 3D space calculations.
- Armagh Observatory (1790): Home to J.L.E. Dreyer’s NGC catalogue, still used by astronomers today.
- The Leviathan of Parsonstown (1845-1917): Once the world’s largest telescope, located at Birr Castle, where William Parsons first observed “spiral nebulae,” later identified as galaxies beyond the Milky Way.
- 1919 Solar Eclipse: Irish astronomer Andrew Crommelin and Dublin-based Grubb Co. played key roles in confirming Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity.
- Jocelyn Bell Burnell (1967): Discovered pulsars, leading to breakthroughs in gravitational waves and exoplanet discovery and controversially earning her supervisor, Anthony Hewish, the Nobel Prize in Physics.
Ireland has long been involved in astronomy and this legacy continues to shape our understanding of the universe to this day.
Total Lunar Eclipse
A total lunar eclipse will be visible from Ireland on March 14th. This occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align so that the Moon passes into Earth’s shadow. In a total lunar eclipse, the entirety of the Moon falls within the darkest part of Earth’s shadow, called the umbra. During totality, it appears a deep red/brown and these lunar eclipses are sometimes called “Blood Moons” because of this phenomenon. The Earth’s shadow will begin to cover the Moon at 5:09 am and will reach totality at 6:26 am. As it reaches totality for us in Ireland, the sun will begin to rise, and the Moon will set below the horizon before the eclipse ends. However, we will still get a great glimpse of the first half of this total eclipse so be sure to look to the western horizon before dawn to see it for yourself.
Planets
At the beginning of the month, look towards the sky after sunset and you’ll spot Venus and Mercury near each other in the west, and Mars and Jupiter in the south. Venus and Mercury will both be low to the horizon and will only be visible for a short period of time before they too set. By the end of the second week of March, Venus and Mercury will leave our night sky entirely. Jupiter and Mars will remain for the rest of the month though, and they are some spectacular targets to observe. Jupiter shines extremely brightly along with nearby red Mars in the south at the beginning of the night, moving westward as the night progresses.
Skellig Coast Dark Sky Festival (March 27–30)
Our astronomy celebrations will continue throughout the month with the Skellig Coast Dark Sky Festival taking place from 27th – 30th March. Held in County Kerry, this festival offers four days of astronomy talks, stargazing sessions, and family-friendly events in the heart of the Gold Tier Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve. It’s an excellent opportunity to experience some of the darkest skies in Ireland. More information can be found on the Skellig Coast Dark Sky Festival page.
Wishing you starry skies!
Blog post written by Jane Dooley