Stargazers across Ireland will be hoping cloud cover will not block out views of a total eclipse of the moon tonight and early tomorrow.
The eclipse will take place from 11 p.m. tonight to 4 a.m. tomorrow.
"At 11:32 p.m., there will be the first real bite out of it as it makes first contact with the earth's shadow," according to Mr David Moore of Astronomy Ireland. The shadow will progress across the moon for the next 93 minutes.
The total eclipse will occur at 1:05 a.m., and Mr Moore said the moon will be reduced to a millionth of its brightness and will appear as a coppery red or orange. The total eclipse will last for 24 minutes, and then the process will reverse as the moon moves out of the earth's shadow.
Astronomy Ireland will be setting up telescopes at 10 locations throughout Ireland. Viewing begins at 10 p.m. so people can take advantage of the telescopes to see Mars and Saturn before the eclipse begins. A full list of venues for eclipse viewing is available at www.astronomy.ie.The European Space Agency said the eclipsewill be visible across Europe, America and Africa. It is safe to view with the naked eye.
Met Éireann predicts that rain will spread slowly northeastwards tonight across Munster and into parts of south Leinster and south Connacht.