Nigeria to Witness Rare 83-Minute Lunar Eclipse Tonight

|By Chinwendu Nwani

Skywatchers across Nigeria and several African nations will be treated to a spectacular lunar eclipse tonight, Sunday, September 7. The rare celestial event is expected to last about 83 minutes, beginning around 8 p.m. Nigerian time, according to the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

Scientists confirmed the eclipse will be visible across most of Africa, with Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Benin, Togo, Niger, and Chad among the countries able to observe it. However, westernmost regions may miss the early penumbral or partial phases as the Moon rises closer to or during totality.

Unlike solar eclipses, experts reassure the public that lunar eclipses are safe to watch with the naked eye. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align, with Earth casting its shadow directly on the Moon—turning it a dramatic reddish hue often referred to as a “Blood Moon.”

This astronomical display marks a rare opportunity for Africans to witness one of nature’s most striking spectacles without special equipment.