A rare lunar eclipse will be visible across Nigeria and several other African countries on Sunday, September 7, starting at about 8:00 PM West Africa Time.
The event, which will last for about 83 minutes, will give the Moon a reddish glow known as a “blood moon.”
According to NTA, people across Nigeria will be able to watch the spectacle, though some western parts of the continent may miss the early stages since the Moon will rise during totality.
Countries expected to witness the eclipse include Ghana, Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Benin, Togo, Niger, Chad, and São Tomé and Príncipe.
In Nigeria, areas with less light pollution such as Yobe and Borno are likely to provide clearer views of the sky.
Scientists described a lunar eclipse as the result of the Sun, Earth, and Moon aligning in a straight line, with Earth’s shadow covering the lunar surface.
Unlike solar eclipses, this event does not pose any danger to the eyes and can be viewed safely without protective glasses.
NASA confirmed that the total eclipse will also be seen in parts of Europe, Asia, and Australia.
The red appearance of the Moon is caused by sunlight bending through Earth’s atmosphere, a natural process that also influences the Moon’s temperature during the eclipse.
