Nigerians will be able to see a rare total lunar eclipse on Sunday, September 7. The eclipse will begin around 8:00 pm and last for about 83 minutes, turning the moon a reddish colour, commonly called a “blood moon.”
The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) said the event will also be visible in Ghana, Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Benin, Togo, Niger, Chad, and São Tomé and Príncipe. However, some areas in the far west may miss the early stages because the moon will rise later.
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Scientists explained that a lunar eclipse happens when the sun, earth, and moon line up, with the earth casting its shadow on the moon. Unlike solar eclipses, it is safe to watch directly with the eyes.
NASA confirmed that the eclipse will also be seen in parts of Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The reddish glow happens because sunlight bends through the earth’s atmosphere before reaching the moon.
Astronomers in Nigeria said rural areas like Yobe and Borno, which have less light pollution, will provide the clearest views of the eclipse.