The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has dismissed a claim circulating on TikTok about an upcoming period of total darkness on Earth starting from April 8.
The claim suggests that the Earth will experience three days of darkness due to a solar eclipse.
NASRDA’s Director of Media and Corporate Communications, Mr. Felix Ale, clarified that there will indeed be a solar eclipse, but it will only last for four minutes and will be visible in the North America region.
He emphasized that this brief eclipse will not be visible from Africa and will not cause any significant impact.
Ayantunji Gbenro, the Director of Physical and Life Science Department at NASRDA, further explained that the notion of three days of darkness is false.
He clarified that a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking the sunlight temporarily. However, this phenomenon does not result in prolonged darkness lasting for three days.
Gbenro, who is also a Fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Physics, elaborated that during a total solar eclipse, the Moon appears larger than the Sun, blocking all direct sunlight and creating a temporary darkness known as totality.
However, this darkness is limited to a narrow path on Earth’s surface, and only a partial eclipse is visible in the surrounding regions.
The viral TikTok video suggests that the darkness will be caused by photons blocking sunlight and starlight from reaching Earth.
It advises people to stay indoors, stock up on essentials, and avoid traveling during this period of supposed darkness.
NASRDA assures the public that there will be no extended period of darkness as claimed on TikTok.
The upcoming solar eclipse will be brief and limited to specific regions, without causing any widespread disruption or darkness lasting for three days.
