Partial solar eclipse hits Nigeria, other countries

A rare solar eclipse allowing a view of the
Sun blocked by the Moon has taken place
in some parts of Nigeria.
The partial eclipse was also reported in
other parts of Africa, including Kenya, as
well as in eastern North America and
southern Europe.
A resident of Gwagalada, Abuja, Mr.
Jones Adebayo, told our correspondent
that he caught a glimpse of the eclipse
around 2pm on Sunday.
Adebayo said to prepare residents for the
viewing of the eclipse, a non-
governmental organisation, Sight-in –
Eyes, had distributed shades to residents
in the community on Saturday.
He said, “I did not even know that there
would be an eclipse this year until the
NGO started distributing shades on my
street on Saturday. Its officials told us
that it would be harmful to our health if
we viewed the eclipse with our naked
eyes.
“I eventually saw it on Sunday around
2pm on my way back from church
service. It was very brief, may be 50
seconds but it was a different and special
sight.”
A resident of Ibadan, Oyo State, Busayo
Daniel, however, expressed
disappointment that despite his
anticipation to witness the rare
phenomenon, it didn’t take place in his
community.
He said, “I was outside observing the
weather but it was not significantly
different from any other day’s. At around
2:30 pm I observed that the sun shone
brighter but no darkness was recorded.
“You know normally, when it is sunny it
should be hot and sometimes scorching,
but this was not the case. That was the
only thing of significance that took place.
I lost hope after 4: 30pm when the eclipse
refused to take place.”
The last time an eclipse occurred in
Nigeria was on March 29, 2006, when
darkness was reported in some parts of
Oyo, Kwara, Niger, Zamfara and Katsina
states.
500 students observe partial solar eclipse
at NASRDA
No fewer than 500 students of public and
private schools across the country on
Sunday observed the partial solar eclipse
at the National Space Research and
Development Agency, Abuja.
A solar eclipse is an astronomical event
that occurs when the moon passes
between the sun and the earth and
partially blocks the sun.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria ,
the solar eclipse started in Abuja at
exactly 1. 03 p.m as predicted by
NASRDA.
NASRDA provided the students and some
Nigerians with instruments, including
eclipse shades, to observe the eclipse.
The Supervising Minister for Science and
Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, said
the students were invited to motivate
them to develop interest in the study of
science and technology.
“We invited these students to boost their
interest in studying of science and
technology, which is the bedrock for
industrialisation of any nation.
“That is why we are using this medium to
encourage you to develop interest in
studying science and technology,
particularly astronomy and space
science.”
Johnson, represented by the Permanent
Secretary in the ministry, Mrs. Rabi
Jimeta, said the occurrence of the partial
solar eclipse revealed that space
technology was working in Nigeria.
She promised that government would
continue in its efforts at ensuring the
development of space science.
The Director-General of NASRDA, Prof.
Seidu Mohammed, described solar eclipse
as a natural phenomenon with no direct
impact on climate change.
He said, “All that is happening is a natural
phenomenon and there is no religious
sentiment attached to it.
“This should help us to discourage the
mysteries attached to solar eclipse by
various religious bodies.
“From the scientific perspective, it’s just a
natural phenomenon.
‘The signal from geo-stationary satellites
does not have effect on any of the
communication gadgets like the GSM,
aircraft and businesses.”
Some of the students who spoke with
NAN commended government for the
opportunity to observe it at the centre,
adding that it would boost their interest in
studying science-related courses.
A student of Baptist High School, Kubwa,
FCT, Tlat Japherth, said it was his first
time of observing solar eclipse with such
instruments provided by NASRDA.
Miss Peculiar Daniel of Scintillate Int’l
Model School, Lokoja, said the
opportunity would help her to know more
about the sun, the moon and the earth.
Also, Mr Luru Adewumi, a teacher at the
Oak Height Schools, Lugbe, Abuja,
described it as an opportunity that some
of the teachers never had when they were
in school.
Adewumi said the experience would not
allow anybody to deceive the students
about strange attachments to solar
eclipse by people.
He said the it would help the students to
understand the practical aspects of
science.
However, Mrs. Akinwumi Arize, who
brought her five-year-old son to observe
the eclipse, said such a gesture would
help children to know how the galaxy and
the universe operate.
NASRDA had predicted that a partial solar
eclipse would occur in Lagos at 12:30 p
m.; Kano, 1.07 p. m., and Enugu, 1.04
p.m.
It also added that the entire African
continent would be affected by the partial
eclipse, while some other parts of the
world would witness total eclipse.
The agency predicted that another partial
eclipse would occur in April 2014, March
2015 and September 2016
Meanwhile, other online reports indicate
that the eclipse was first visible in the
southern United States, before sweeping
east across the Atlantic Ocean and the
African continent.
The US space agency, NASA, said the
greatest total eclipse occurred over the
Atlantic Ocean.
One of the best views was in northern
Kenya, where tour companies organised
trips to view a total blackout the BBC
reports.
Local myths there attribute the event to
the Moon eating the Sun.
Partial views were available in eastern
North America and southern Europe.
This solar eclipse was a rare occurrence
in that it was “hybrid” – switching
between an annular and total eclipse.
In a total eclipse, the moon completely
covers the sun, while an annular eclipse
occurs when the moon is at its farthest
from the Earth and does not block out the
Sun completely, leaving a halo of sunlight
still visible around the Moon.
The eclipse event began about 1,000km
east of Jacksonville, Florida with an
annular eclipse visible for four seconds at
sunrise.
As the moon’s shadow raced east the
eclipse switched from annular to total
along a narrow corridor.
The greatest total eclipse occurred in the
Atlantic Ocean, approximately 330km
south-west of Liberia, and lasted for more
than one minute.
The eclipse continued across Africa
through the Congos until it passed
through northern Uganda and northern
Kenya, ending in southern Ethiopia and
Somalia.
Either side, a partial eclipse was seen
within a much broader path – including
eastern North America, northern South
America, southern Europe, the Middle
East and Africa.