Video: Will Mid Ulster catch a glimpse of solar eclipse?

All eyes will be turned skyward in Mid Ulster on Friday morning for the chance to catch a glimpse of the solar eclipse.
By The Newsroom
Published 19th Mar 2015, 14:13 BST
Northern Ireland in set for a 95% eclipse on Friday morning. But be careful if you want to get a peak!Northern Ireland in set for a 95% eclipse on Friday morning. But be careful if you want to get a peak!
Northern Ireland in set for a 95% eclipse on Friday morning. But be careful if you want to get a peak!

The eclipse is predicted to happen at around 9.30am, but weather forecasters are predicting cloudy conditions.

It will be closest to the centre of the Sun at 9.29am, and then leave the Sun’s edge at 10:37am, to bring the heavenly spectacle to an end.

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See also - Video: Stunning time-lapse of Aurora borealis captured over Lough NeaghBefore then, there is a rare chance to catch sight of Mercury, which revolves around the Sun in an elliptical orbit with a period of just 88 days and at an average distance from the Sun of approximately 58 million kilometres.

Because this is much less than the average distance of Earth from the Sun, Mercury never strays far from the Sun in the sky.

It is always difficult to find in the morning or evening twilight, even when at its greatest angular distance from the Sun.

See also - Video: Stargazers all set to flock to Beaghmore Stone Circles outside CookstownThis year, however, Mercury occupies the same patch of sky, in nearly exactly the same direction, as its much brighter neighbour Venus.