A rare lunar eclipse will be visible across Nigeria and several African countries on Sunday, September 7, beginning around 8:00 PM (WAT). The event is expected to last for about 83 minutes, during which the Moon will take on a reddish glow commonly referred to as a “blood moon.”
According to the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the eclipse will be seen nationwide, though some western parts of the continent may miss the early stages as the Moon will rise during totality. Countries such as Ghana, Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Benin, Togo, Niger, Chad, and São Tomé and Príncipe are also expected to witness the spectacle.
In Nigeria, regions with minimal light pollution — particularly states like Yobe and Borno — are likely to offer clearer views. Scientists explained that a lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align in a straight line, with Earth’s shadow falling on the lunar surface.
Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are safe to observe with the naked eye and do not require protective glasses. NASA confirmed that this total eclipse will also be visible in parts of Europe, Asia, and Australia.
The reddish tint of the Moon, scientists noted, is caused by sunlight bending through Earth’s atmosphere, a phenomenon that also slightly affects the Moon’s temperature during the eclipse.
