Solar Eclipse: Weather Agency Advices Nigerians

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has advised Nigerians not to
panic over the total solar eclipse which will take place on March 29.

Agency reports quote NIMET's Director-General, Liwhu Akeh as saying
that the advice was necessary to enlighten people about the eclipse,
which will be total in five states.

The five states are Oyo, Kwara, Niger, Zamfara and Katsina.

According to the report, Akeh's advice was contained in a statement
signed by NIMET spokeswoman, Eva Azinge and made available to newsmen
in Abuja.

He said the eclipse, which will start from North-East, Brazil to Europe
through Africa, would take place between 9.15 a.m. and 9.45 a.m.

He said that part of the total eclipse that will cause complete
darkness would pass through North-Western and South-Western Nigeria as
well as some parts of the world.

"The remaining 31 states and the FCT will experience partial eclipse"
NIMET boss was quoted as saying.

The country's chief meteorologist said that Nigerians should not
therefore be disturbed by the natural occurrence, as there is no known
meteorological implication for the eclipse.

However, Akeh said that the solar radiation might transiently drop, but
would not be enough to significantly change surface temperature.

"The eclipse will not disturb the weather condition of the day, except
the temporary darkness in some locations that will experience it," he
said.

On the impact of the solar eclipse, he said that the sun could be
viewed safely with the naked eye only during the few brief seconds or
minutes of a total solar eclipse.

He further explained that an eclipse of the sun (or solar eclipse)
could only occur at new moon when the moon passes between Earth and
sun.

"If the moon's shadow happens to fall upon Earth's surface at that
time, we see some portion of the sun's disc covered or "eclipsed" by
the moon.

According to him, "as a result of this development, the moon's shadow
usually misses Earth as it passes above or below our planet at new
moon."

"At least twice a year, the geometry lines up just right so that some
parts of the moon's shadow falls on Earth's surface and an eclipse of
the sun is seen from that region," he added.

He, however, predicted that the next total eclipse of the sun would
occur on August 1,2008.

The Tide recalls that Nigeria had previously recorded eclipses in 1898,
1947, 1959 and 2001, with the most recent one igniting a riot in
Maiduguri where it occurred.

People who did not understand the phenomenon took to the streets
protesting that something bad had happened to them, while others
thought that the world had come to an end

http://www.thetidenews.com/article.aspx?qrDate=03/03/2006&qrTitle=Solar%20eclipse:%20Weather%20agency%20advices%20Nigerians&qrColumn=BACK%20PAGE

Source, please.

Updated: I've added [url=http://www.thetidenews.com/article.aspx?qrDate=03/03/2006&qrTitle=Solar%20eclipse:%20Weather%20agency%20advices%20Nigerians&qrColumn=BACK%20PAGE]the link[/url] to your post. Wow, we've got to take pictures of the eclipse!

Total Solar Eclipse of 2006 March 29On Wednesday, 2006 March 29, a total eclipse of the Sun will be visible from within a narrow corridor which traverses half the Earth. The path of the Moon's umbral shadow begins in Brazil and extends across the Atlantic, northern Africa, and central Asia where it ends at sunset in western Mongolia. A partial eclipse will be seen within the much broader path of the Moon's penumbral shadow, which includes the northern two thirds of Africa, Europe, and central Asia

you can check it out here
 http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEmono/TSE2006/TSE2006.html
 
 http://www.eclipseglasses.co.uk/

i think this can help

to look at it, you would have to use some special UV sunglasses unless it can cause damage to the eyes.

kool

Can I use a digital camera (if I can get one) to take pictures of the eclipse?

yah it should be possible , just try as much as possible to prevent it from affecting your eyes, too bad i can't see this eclipse

Thank God its not near the niger delta.

Thanks to you all for the beautiful information supplied. I think I should have more to say on this next time. I actually want to show appreciation.

Thanks to you all once more.

I looked through a piece of welders glass at the last eclipse here in 2000 a neighbour suggested it and it worked a treat you can actually see through the black glass and without the glare see the eclipse you might get a pic with that better Seun but be careful its not known how many UV rays get through the black glass but it was great

Courseyou have to know a welder or be able to buy a piece of this glass sorry I didnt see this threadso for those who now see this just be careful, eyes are precious

the eclipse is from 9:15am to 9:45am on the 29th goodlcuk to you all that can view it, try and wear your protective UV lenses

We need Nairaland members to take pictures of this solar eclipse today!

Reports said that eight states, most of them within the South-West and the North-West zones of the country, would witness a total blackout. The states are Ogun, Oyo, Kwara, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi and Niger, while other parts [/b]of the country would experience [b]partial darkness.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/290306/news02.htm (if you have a digital camera, please take a series of pictures of the eclipse. Thanks!)

But it would be partial in other parts of the country

Even if it's partial, we'll definitely notice it!

Even if it's partial, we'll still notice it. I've never experienced a solar eclipse!

Seun:

Even if it's partial, we'll still notice it. I've never experienced a solar eclipse!

Me either! I cant wait to see the pics! you guys should try get it please.

For those of us planning to take pictures, or look at the sun, just remember to wear protective filters or dark sunglasses if u cant get the filters. Sources say that staring at the sun could cause temporary or permanent defect to your eyes.
Wish i was at home to witness this eclipse.

i really wish i could feast my eyes on the solar eclipse. it doesnt come everyday you know. but  my eyes are still precious. i'm too young to go blind

i'd really love to see pictures. members please if u wouldnt mind!!!!!

my father once told me that when it happened when he was young, they viewed it. how? this is how:

they poured water in a wide basin and looked into the reflection of the sun and the moon as the eclipse occured. i could try the same if i wasnt at work

I anxious 2
though i heard on (rhythm 93.7fm news 7.10a.m today) that lagos should expect partial darkeness
wish i was in Ibadan!
Anyhow pls anyone i like to see the picture but watch your eyes too OOOO

I can't take the pictures with a digital camera; the sun is just too bright. i will try the water in basin approach. Running to fetch a basin. it's 9:15am already. Run, run, run!

is this it? in Lagos, just quite a dark cloud? am disappointed. i wish i was in Ibadan. here in Lagos, the sun is happy, smiling its brightness down on us.

watching big bro nigeria and its just like a dark cloud there

PLS SOMEBODY TRY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO GIVE US THE STAGES OF THIS Eclipse PLZZZZZZZZ AM GOING TO GET MY GLASSES FROM ABUJA NOW.

all the welders in town will be able to safely look through their glasses, the black glass was excellent for getting a view of our partial eclipse and all we saw on earth was an eerie half darkness in what should have been bright sunshine for about half an hour, I took video of the effect on the ground but like Seun said its no good to look direct with any camera!

Hello Everybody,

I am trilled to experience this even though its partial. I am truly trilled. I wish I can experience the total eclipse. Please do send in pictures.

Thanks.

These are the best pictures I got from the water-in-basin approach.  The wind was not cooperative but I got really lucky in picture 3 above.  Yay! Next time I'm going to have dark goggles on hand, definitely.

Well done Seun!!!

is this the eclipse in lagos now, . . am on the 7th floor of a glass building where am seeing the sky very well, , . . is this the partial eclipse somebody tell me!!

Next time??  How often do you folks have these?
By the time we get our next one, I shall be dust under the mud!