Nigerians will on Sunday, September 7, join millions of people across West Africa to witness a rare total lunar eclipse, scientists have confirmed.
The eclipse, which will begin at about 8:00 pm West Africa Time, is expected to last for 83 minutes and will turn the moon into a reddish colour, popularly referred to as a “blood moon.”
According to the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the phenomenon will be visible in Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Benin, Togo, Niger, Chad, and São Tomé and Príncipe. However, some westernmost parts of the region may miss the early stages of the eclipse as the moon will rise closer to or during totality.
Scientists explained that a lunar eclipse happens when the sun, earth and moon align, with the earth casting its shadow on the moon’s surface. Unlike solar eclipses, experts say the event is completely safe to watch with the naked eye.
The United States’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) also projected that the eclipse will be seen across Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.
The reddish glow that will appear on the moon, NASA explained, is caused by sunlight passing through the earth’s atmosphere and bending towards the moon. The agency added that its recent studies have linked such events with temperature variations on the lunar surface.
In Nigeria, astronomers said rural areas such as Yobe and Borno, which have less light pollution, will provide the clearest views of the spectacle.
