ABUJA—Nigerians will experience a partial lunar eclipse on Sunday, November 3, across the 36 states of the federation.
According to the Director-General of National Space Research and Development Agency, NASRDA , Dr. Saidu Mohammed, the 2013 penumbral lunar eclipse will be visible throughout Africa, Caribbean, Europe, Africa and Asia.
According to the NASRDA boss, some part of the world will be having total eclipse, while in Nigeria, there will be partial eclipse.
For observers in Nigeria, the eclipse will occur in the middle of the night when the moon is high overhead. The partial shading will be visible as the slight reddish dimming of the normally bright full moon.
The partial eclipse would be visible in most parts of Nigeria between 12:00 am and 4:10am of Sunday, November 3, 2013.
During the partial eclipse, part of the moon will partially block the sun from reaching the earth through only the outer edge of the earth’s shadow in what scientists call a penumbra lunar eclipse.
Speaking on the development, the Director, Centre for Astronomy, UNN, Prof. Felix Okpara said that partial eclipse usually occur when the moon passes between the sun and the earth, causing a blockage either partially or fully blocking the sun light from shining.
‘‘Considering our culture here, we felt that it is necessary to inform Nigerians so that they will be aware that the world is not coming to an end but that these things happening are natural phenomenon.
‘‘It does not affect the flight, therefore, it is up to the science desk doing studies on astronomy to let us know about this development so that people will understand it well,’’ he said.
According to him, nothing ordinary will happen during the period of the partial eclipse and it can’t hinder any geo satellite signals.