Nigerians will have the privilege of joining stargazers worldwide in witnessing the rare sight of a partial lunar eclipse on Friday, March 14th, 2025, for the first time since 2016, as a blood moon is expected worldwide.
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon, blocking the Sun’s light and casting a shadow on the Moon. During a lunar eclipse, the Moon appears dimmed or reddish as it passes through Earth’s shadow and it is visible from any location on Earth where the moon is above the horizon. it occurs in two forms namely: a partial one and a total lunar eclipse.
The partial lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon only partially enters Earth’s shadow (umbra). As a result, a portion of the Moon appears darkened, while the rest remains visible with the appearance of the Moon during a partial eclipse depending on how much of the Moon is in the shadow.
A total lunar eclipse on the other hand occurs when the entire moon passes through Earth’s shadow (umbra). The Moon appears darkened, often with a reddish or copper hue due to sunlight refracted through Earth’s atmosphere. This type of is however rarer than a partial lunar eclipse.
What is expected across Nigeria is the partial lunar eclipse from the periods of 4:57pm – 6:58pm. on Friday March 14th, 2025. The eclipse starts at 4;57pm across Nigeria and ends at different times between 6:44pm and 6:58pm in different states of the federation. It is expected to be most visible in Lagos and Benin city due to a high degree of lunar obscuration in those states.
This is not the first time Nigeria is witnessing a lunar eclipse but it is the first since September 1, 2016 when there was an annular solar eclipse across Nigeria. A total solar eclipse occurred in Nigeria on May 20th 1947 while there was another eclipse on March 29, 2006 visible partially in Ibadan, Abuja, Minna, Lagos, Abeokuta, and substantial parts of the West, Middle Belt, and North West and totally in Kastina, Gusau, Kazaure, Isah, Shaki, Tede, and Sepeteri.
After the expected eclipse on March 14th, there is expected to be a total lunar eclipse in Nigeria on September 7, 2025.
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