The Director, Centre for Basic Space Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Fidelis Opara, has predicted the time the solar eclipse expected to occur today would be observed in different parts of the country.

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon moves between the earth and the sun, partially or completely blocking the rays of the sun from hitting the earth. Today’s eclipse is ecpected to be partial.

The eclipse, according to Prof. Opara, will occur in Abakaliki between 1.06pm and 4.09pm, in Ibadan between 12.52pm and 4.01pm, in Port Harcourt between 1.03pm and 4.09pm,in Enugu between 1.04pm and 4.07pm, in Lagos between 12.50pm and 4.01pm, in Kano between 1.07pm and 4.01pm; Abuja between 1.03pm and 4.03pm and in Uyo between 1.06pm to 4.09pm.

He identified other locations to witness the partial solar eclipse to include Hamilton, Bermuda, New York, New York, U.S.A, Freetown, Sierra Leone, Monrovia, Liberia; São Tomé, Sao Tome and Principe; Malabo, Equatorial Guinea; Port-Gentil, Gabon; ibreville, Gabon; Yaoundé, Cameroon; Brazzaville, Congo; Kinshasa, Congo Dem. Rep; Bangui, Central African Republic; Juba, South Sudan; Kigali, Rwanda; Kampala, Uganda; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Nairobi, Kenya and Mogadishu, Somalia.

Meanwhile, the Director-General of the National Space and Research Agency, Dr. Seidu Mohammed, has advised Nigerians to note that the eclipse is a natural event that should not bring about undue panic. He urged all Nigerians to remain calm as the eclipse would not hinder normal activities.

Dr. Mohammed, however, warned people not to look skyward during the occurrence without proper protection for the eyes as it is dangerous to do so – it can, in fact, lead to permanent eye damage or blindness.

Similar eclipses are expected to occur by April 15, 2014; Oct. 8, 2014; April 4, 2015; and Sept. 25, 2015.

•Photo shows a solar eclipse.