The National Space Research and Development Agency (NSRDA) on Wednesday announced that Nigerians will witness an annular solar eclipse between 7:15am and 10:03am today, Thursday, September 1, 2016. NSRDA, however, explained that there would be slight variations in actual timing across the country.

A statement signed by the Head of Media and Corporate Communications of NSRDA, Dr Felix Ale, said the agency has arranged viewing centres to enable members of the public, pupils and students, view the eclipse with specially designed viewing instruments, adding that the eclipse cannot be viewed with the naked eyes as this could cause permanent damage to human eyes.

“Lagos will experience its first contact with the eclipse at 7:15 am with a maximum eclipse at 8:32 am and ending at about 10:00am. We advise the public not to panic or attach any spiritual connotation to the eclipse, as it is a natural occurrence which had been predicted by science.

“In Abuja, there will be a partial eclipse with an obscurity of 60% and the first contact will be at about 7:17am, with maximum eclipse at 8:32am and the last at 10:00am.”

The last time Nigerians witnessed the occurrence of an eclipse was on March 29, 2006.

An annular solar eclipse happens when the moon covers the sun’s centre, leaving the sun’s visible outer edges to form a ‘ring of fire’ or annulus around the moon.

•Adapted from anIndependent report.Photo shows solar eclipse.