PHOTOS: From Outer Space to Cyberspace, Nigeria’s Partial Solar Eclipse · Global Voices
Nwachukwu Egbunike

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  occurs when the silhouette of the Moon completely obscures the Sun, allowing the much fainter solar corona to be visible. In an A 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):
Yea, #eclipse of the sun in Lagos Nigeria waow, 2nd experience, 1 in 2006 and 2013 half moon shining pic.twitter.com/v0s4YCcTWh
— 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
Many Twitter users shared the pictures of the eclipse as observed from their homes. For instance, Ikenna (@Failedrift) shared this picture on his Twitter timeline:
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:
#Eclipse of the sun as purportedly seen in some parts of #Nigeria Warri: pic.twitter.com/SGL3O4nPug Lagos:… http://t.co/6nn3yMY9dV
— 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:
Somewhere in #Nigeria there is a girl breaking up with her boyfriend simply bcos he didn't give her an #Eclipse gift
— Timmy (@lil_timmzy) November 3, 2013