By Sesi Noah Residents across Nigeria and other parts of West Africa will be treated to a breathtaking celestial event on Sunday, September...
By Sesi Noah
Residents across Nigeria and other parts of West Africa will be treated to a breathtaking celestial event on Sunday, September 7, as a total lunar eclipse graces the night sky from about 8:00 p.m. WAT.
The eclipse, expected to last for roughly 83 minutes, will turn the Moon a dramatic reddish color — often called a “blood moon” — creating a spectacular sight for skywatchers.
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 PrÃncipe. However, some westernmost areas may miss the earliest stages due to the Moon rising closer to or during totality.
Experts emphasize that unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are completely safe to view with the naked eye.
NASA explains that a total lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth moves directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow fully over the lunar surface. The reddish glow happens because Earth’s atmosphere bends sunlight, filtering out blue light and leaving shades of red and orange.
This Sunday’s eclipse will also be visible across parts of Europe, Asia, and Australia, but for many Nigerians, it promises to be a rare and unforgettable show in the sky.
Photo credit: Vanguard News
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