By Femi Akinola
Nigeria’s National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has debunked as a hoax the prediction of 72 hours total darkness over the earth next month.
The agency, in a swift reaction to NatureNews’ enquiries on Tuesday, said the viral information is inaccurate and misleading.
NASRDA, however, confirmed there would be a total solar eclipse on the 8th of April, which will cause temporary darkness along its path of totality across the North America axis.
NASRDA’s Director of Public Affairs, Dr. Felix Ale told NatureNews that Nigerians should not entertain any fear.
“We have nothing to fear in Nigeria about the eclipse in April. It will take place in the North America axis at a time we would be at night time in Nigeria.”
Reacting to the viral video and blogs that predicted the entire earth will be in darkness for 72 hours, Dr. Ale said there is no scientific evidence or credible prediction of an event that would cause 72 hours of darkness on the earth in April, as far as NASRDA is concerned.
According to him, solar eclipse is a natural and periodic astronomical event that is well understood and predicted by scientists.
He said that for millenia, eclipses have captivated humanity, with the sun, moon, and earth performing a mesmerising cosmic dance, adding that eclipse is understood as an amazing astronomical phenomenon.
Dr. Ale explained that on the 8th of April, a special solar eclipse is scheduled to occur when the moon blocks the sun’s light, casting a shadow on earth.
Checks by NatureNews revealed that on the 8th of April solar eclipse, the moon will be closer than usual, and it would appear slightly larger.
This phenomenon, NatureNews gathered, will create a longer period of total darkness, where the sun will be completely hidden and it would last for about 7.5 minutes.
NatureNews also gathered that this extended ‘totality’ of darkness is rare as the last recorded one occurred in 1973, while the next will be in 2150.
Scientists have explained that the duration and the visibility of totality of this year’s solar eclipse will depend on geographic location of the observer and the path of the eclipse which has been predicted to take place in the North America axis especially Mexico, United States and Canada.