By Ahmed Tukur
Lafia
An official of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASDRA) has advised Nigerians not to panic over the lunar eclipse which occurred yesterday morning.
NASRDA’s Chief Scientific Officer (Engineering and Space Systems), Dr Benjamin Ayetunji, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
According to him, the lunar eclipse is an astronomical event that occurs when the earth comes in between the sun and the moon and the earth casts its shadow on the moon.
He said lunar eclipse occurs when the earth’s shadow blocks the sunlight, which otherwise reflects off the moon.
He said there was no myth attached to lunar eclipse which is just an astronomical event and urged Nigerians to just “watch and appreciate science.”
He said: “There is no myth attached to lunar eclipse, it will even shock you to know that it happens every month when there is full moon depending on the location.
“So, for example, as we are observing it here on Monday September 28, at that same time some locations on earth will be on the day side of the earth.
“Because of that they will not see the moon talk less of observing the eclipse, that’s just the simple explanation why we do not see it every time.
“In a layman’s explanation, let us assume you are standing in front of a light source; of course your shadow will be behind you; now if there is any person behind you, your shadow will be on that person.
“Simply put, that’s what happens in lunar eclipse; it occurs because the earth comes in between the sun and the moon so the earth casts its shadow on the moon thereby covering the moon.
“So, what you see as the lunar eclipse is the shadow of the earth on the moon and it appears reddish that’s why it’s called `the blood moon.”
Ayetunji said the frequent occurrence of the eclipse had nothing to do with global warming or anything falling out of place as alleged by most Nigerians, but because of its periodicity.
He said lunar eclipse had no side effect as was the case with the solar eclipse and people could view it directly.
