Longest ‘Blood Moon’ Eclipse of the Century Hits Nigeria Today

Nigeria will today experience a spectacular total lunar eclipse, which will last for one hour, a professor, Augustine Ubachukwu, has said.

It is unlike anything seen in decades with a celestial double feature as the Mars is about to make its closest approach to Earth in years—just as the full moon blushes red in the longest “blood moon” eclipse of the century.

Both the moon and Mars will dominate the overnight hours on July 27 and into the morning of July 28, traveling across the sky beside each other while appearing to be separated by only five degrees, equal to the width of three middle fingers held at arm’s length.

On the 27th, the red planet will swing the closest it has come to Earth since August 2003, allowing sky-watchers around the world to see our neighboring world about as big and bright it can ever get in our skies

Ubachukwu, the leader of Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Group of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja, that   “It will be visible from 9:30.p.m. and last till 11:22 p.m.

“This total lunar eclipse will be primarily visible  from the world’s Eastern  Hemisphere, which are Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia  and  New Zealand.

“Part of South America will be able to watch the final stages of the eclipse just after sunset on July 27, 2018.

“New Zealand will catch the beginning stages of the eclipse before sunrise on July 28, 2018.

The scientist said during a total lunar eclipse, the earth completely blocks direct sunlight from reaching the moon, while the only light reflected from the lunar surface would be refracted by earth’s atmosphere.

According to him, unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are safe to view without any eye protection or special precautions as they appear dimmer than the full moon.

The professor, however, said that the next total lunar eclipse that would be visible in Nigeria would occur on January 21, 2019.

Rabiu Babatunde, Another professor, the Director, Centre for Atmospheric Research in Kogi told, NAN, that people should not be perturbed at the occurrence.

Babatunde said that the event underscored the fact that planetary objects, including the earth were in a state of defined continuous motion.

He said that the occurrence necessitated the need for scientists to continue monitoring and exploring the dynamics of the motion and the phenomena associated with them.

“Keeping tab on the dynamics will enable scientists sensitise the global community of any hazard associated with such occurrences,’’ he said.