Permanent
Secretary, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Mrs Rabi Jimeta
(left), and Director-General, National Space Research and Development
Agency, Prof. Seidu Mohammed, observing the eclipse in Abuja ... on
Sunday and Partial solar eclipse as captured by a reader in Aba, Abia
State ...on Sunday
| credits: NAN
| credits: NAN
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.
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