Nigerians will join millions across Africa tonight, Sunday, September 7, in witnessing a total lunar eclipse that will turn the Moon a reddish shade for more than an hour.
The eclipse, which begins at 8:00 p.m. West Africa Time, is expected to last about 83 minutes, offering a spectacular sight for sky watchers.
According to the National Television Authority, scientists have confirmed that the eclipse will be visible across most parts of the continent.
“Countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Benin, Togo, Niger, Chad, and São Tomé and Príncipe will experience the eclipse, though the westernmost areas may miss parts of the early penumbral or partial phases due to the Moon rising closer to or during totality,” the network reported on Sunday.
Experts explain that a lunar eclipse happens when the Earth comes directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on the lunar surface.
The total eclipse, they said, will also be visible in Europe, Asia, and Australia.
