Nigerians witnessed a partial eclipse of the sun on Sunday, November 3, 2013. According to Ikenna Okonkwo – a geo-scientist, blogger and university teacher:
The eclipse actually what is known as a hybrid Eclipse. A hybrid eclipse occurs when a Solar eclipse is seen as Total and Annular at the same time. A total eclipse occurs when the silhouette of the Moon completely obscures the Sun, allowing the much fainter solar corona to be visible. In an Annular eclipse the Sun and Moon are exactly in line, but the apparent size of the Moon is smaller than that of the Sun. Hence the Sun appears as a very bright ring, or annulus, surrounding the dark disk of the Moon. Usually the path of totality where a full (total or Annular) eclipse occurs is at best a narrow path with totality lasting about 2 minutes. On a much larger area observers get to see a partial eclipse.
Naturally, this event prompted reactions from Nigerians online. Many were enthused because they were witnessing another solar eclipse within a space of seven years, as seen in this tweet by Owolabi Caleb (@owocaleb):
— owolabi caleb (@owocaleb) November 3, 2013
Elijah Balogun (@EarlEternal), a digital media enthusiast, dedicated his 1,000th tweet to commemorate the event:
My 1000th tweet goes to commemorate a special event. Partial #eclipse of sun in Nigeria and beyond.
— ELIJAH balogun (@EarlEternal) November 3, 2013
The glare even from a bucket of water is too much…. pic.twitter.com/PLHl0hKiEN
— Ikenna (@FailedRift) November 3, 2013
Victor Olurnfemi (@mavol), a digital graphic designer, did as well:
— Victor Olorunfemi (@mavol) November 3, 2013
Some tweets were humorous. Nigerian writer Ayodele Olofintuade (@aeolofintuade) remarked:
In honor of this our new festival called solar eclipse I'll be throwing an eclipse party at roundabout, mokola,Ibadan [the capital of Nigeria's Oyo state]. Come one, come all.
— ayodele olofintuade (@aeolofintuade) November 3, 2013
Nokwai (@chuksikeji), an entrepreneur, wrote:
Please will all those who saw the #SolarEclipse come register here for free. Certification will be arranged for a token.
— Nokwai (@chuksikeji) November 3, 2013
Lee_alifa, a student (@dlordna). thought that:
Somewhere in nigeria an herbalist would be bragging saying “The gods are angry”..nd some ode's wld believe him..oga na #Eclipse oo […. and some fools would believe him… master, it's an eclipse!].
— lee_alifa (@dlordna) November 3, 2013
Timmy (@lil_timmzy), tweeted this:
— Timmy (@lil_timmzy) November 3, 2013