Nigerian space agency predicts solar eclipse on September 1

(AGI) - Lagos, Aug 18 - Nigeria's National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has predicted the occurrence of eclipse of the sun across the country on September 1. Announcing this Thursday, Head of Media and Corporate Communications of the agency, Felix Ale, said NARSDA had concluded to provide special solar filters to the public to watch the rare natural occurrence, as he also disclosed that the space agency has put in place a viewing centre at her headquarters in Abuja, with provision of proper eclipse viewing apparatus for school children to observe the annular eclipse as part of its continuous programmes to expose Nigerians and students to matters concerning astronomical environment. He, however, explained that the natural occurrence will be in the southern part of the country, particularly in Lagos, where it is expected to have eighty per cent obscurity, while the lowest degree of obscurity will be observed in the northern part of the country, particularly in Sokoto, which will be about forty five per cent. He appealed to the general public not to panic or adduce any mystical interpretations to the event, advising that nobody should observe eclipse with naked eyes. Allating the fear of public about the eclipse, he advised that the annular eclipse is not a spiritual issue but a natural occurrence that can be accurately predicted by science, adding that it has developed the capacity to accurately make this prediction as part of its mandates. The annular eclipse is expected to occur between 7:15am and 10:03am with slight variations in actual timing across the country. (AGI) .