eclipse is an astronomical event
cannot be viewed with the naked eyes
Dele Ogbodo in Abuja
The National Space Research and
Development Agency (NASRDA), on Wednesday advised that Nigerians should
not panic over the annular eclipse due to occur in different parts of
the country.
In a statement signed by the agency’s
Head of Media and Corporate Communication, Mr. Felix Ale, in Abuja, said
the eclipse will be experienced between the hours of 7:15am and 10:03am
with slight variations in actual timing across the country.
An annular eclipse, the agency
explained, occurs when the sun and the moon are exactly in line, but the
apparent size of the moon is smaller than that of the sun, hence the
sun appears as a very bright ring or annulus surrounding the dark disk
of the moon.
He said: “The agency has arranged a
viewing centre at the Obasanjo Space centre, along airport road, Abuja,
to enable members of the public, pupils and students from various
schools to view the eclipse.
Ale, said the agency will provide
specially designed viewing instruments for Nigerians who wish to watch
the eclipse between those hours.
According to him, eclipse is an
astronomical event, and an occurrence of nature for man to behold but
cannot be viewed with the naked eyes as this can cause permanent damage
to the human eyes.
He said: “The eclipse will be experience
at varying obscurities, with the southern part of the country having
the highest degree of obscurity of eighty per cent, and in the north the
lowest obscurity of fort-five per cent.
“In the Federal Capital Territory Abuja,
there will be a partial eclipse, with an obscurity of sixty per cent,
and the first contact at about 7:17am, with maximum eclipse at 8:32am
and end at 10:00am.”
According to him, Lagos will also
experience its first contact with the eclipse at 7:15am, with a maximum
eclipse occurring at 8:32am and ending at about 10:00am.
He advised the public not panic or
attach any spiritual connotation to this appearance of the eclipse, as
this is a natural occurrence which has been accurately predicted by
science.
“The National Space Research and Development Agency has developed necessary capacity to accurately make these predictions.
“The viewing centre which has been set
up by the agency will be open to the public on Thursday 1st September,
2016 from 6:45am for school pupils and students to observe the annular
eclipse as part of its continuous programmes to expose Nigerians and
students to matters concerning astronomical environment.”
Thisday
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