Nigerians witness total lunar eclipse “blood moon”

Nigerians observed a total lunar eclipse, or blood moon, on September 7, 2025, sharing photos and experiences as the celestial event lit up the night sky across Africa.

On Sunday, September 7, 2025, Nigerians marveled at a total lunar eclipse, widely known as a “blood moon.”

Social media platforms, particularly X, were abuzz with users sharing photos and their firsthand experiences of the astronomical event.

According to the National Television Authority (NTA), scientists confirmed that the eclipse would be visible across most of Africa.

“Countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Benin, Togo, Niger, Chad, and São Tomé and Príncipe will witness the eclipse,” the network reported, noting that “westernmost regions may miss parts of the early penumbral or partial phases due to the Moon rising closer to or during totality.”

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align perfectly, allowing Earth’s shadow to fall across the lunar surface.

NASA explains on its website that lunar eclipses can be total, partial, or penumbral, depending on how much of the Moon is covered by Earth’s shadow.

The reddish hue of the Moon during a total eclipse, often called a “blood moon,” is caused by sunlight bending—or refracting—through Earth’s atmosphere.

NASA has recently corroborated this phenomenon through observations of temperature variations on the lunar surface during such events.

The agency also predicted that the total lunar eclipse would be visible not only in Africa but across Europe, Asia, and Australia, providing a rare astronomical spectacle for skywatchers worldwide.