'Rare' Super Moon eclipse visible from Ireland

A "rare spectacle of nature" graced the sky over Ireland, when a partial lunar eclipse of a Super Moon was visible across the country.

The eclipse began at around 3.10am when a small shadow began to creep over the top right area of the lunar surface.

The mid-eclipse occurred at around 3.44am, which is the time when Astronomy Ireland forecast "a large dark bite" would be taken out of the Moon.

The spectacle lasted for just over an hour, before ending at approximately 4.18am.

Astronomy Ireland explained that the partial eclipse is the "Earth's shadow in space crossing the lunar surface".

The group described this morning's event as "especially rare" given the full Moon was a Super Moon meaning the lunar surface was at its closest to Earth.

A Super Moon happens when the Moon appears 30% brighter and 14% bigger in the sky.

Stargazers had been urged to stay awake for the eclipse as Met Éireann forecast clear skies.

However, Astronomy Ireland reports the next lunar eclipse will occur in March 2025 with this event set to be a total lunar eclipse.