Expect partial eclipse of the sun on Sunday – Dr. Seidu Mohammed

The Director General, National Space Research and Development Agency, Dr. Seidu Mohammed, has said that Nigerians will witness a partial or total solar eclipse on Sunday, November 3.

Mohammed, at a press briefing in Abuja, urged Nigerians not to panic over the course of the eclipse.

He said the eclipse will be seen across the country and in the West African sub-region.

Mohammed said, “Different cultures have different reactions to them. There is no course for alarm. There is no need to panic. It will not affect signal from the stationary satellites which means that GSM will continue to work and other things will be normal.

“Cities by cities will be reported in Nigeria, where the eclipse will be; partial eclipse or total eclipse. People should continue with their normal business. Because of partial rays, people should use their sun glasses.”

Although the Moon is a dark object, it can be seen in the sky most of the time because its surface reflects the Sun's rays back to Earth. A partial lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth moves between the Sun and Moon but the three celestial bodies do not form a perfectly straight line. When that happens, a fraction of the Moon moves into the darkest, central part of the Earth's shadow (umbra) and does not receive any direct sunlight. The other part of its visible surface is within the shadow's much brighter outer part (penumbra).