Viral TikTok Video: April 8 eclipse won’t be witnessed in Africa — NASRD

The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has debunked a claim on the Tik Tok platform of total darkness on the earth from April 8 for some days, due to the eclipse of the sun.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports there is a viral message on the TikTok platform claiming that there will be three days of darkness on Earth which will occur when the Earth passes through the photon belt.

Speaking with NAN on this claim, Mr Felix Ale, NASRDA Director of Media and Corporate Communications, said there would be an eclipse that would last for four minutes only in the North America Axis.

He said the four-minute eclipse would not even be witnessed in Africa.

“It will happen in the North America axis. We will not feel it here because it will be at night in Africa. The eclipse will only last for four minutes and it will not affect us at all,” he said.

Speaking in the same vein, Ayantunji Gbenro, NASRDA Director of Physical and Life Science Department told NAN that the three days total darkness on earth being peddled on TIK TOK platform as a result of eclipse was false.

“It is a false alarm. This is my professional position. What is true is a total solar eclipse that will take place as the moon is ascending node on Monday, April 8, 2024, visible across North America..

“A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between earth and the sun, thereby obscuring the image of the sun for a viewer on earth.

“A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon’s apparent diameter is larger than the Sun’s, blocking all direct sunlight, turning day into darkness,“ he explained.

Gbenro, who is also a Fellow Nigeria Institute of Physics added that totality occurs only in a narrow path across earth’s surface, with the partial solar eclipse visible over a surrounding region thousands of kilometres wide.

NAN reports that the viral Tik Tok video claimed there would be 72 hours of darkness across the globe occasioned by photons that would prevent the light of the sun or the stars from passing through it.

According to the video, there will be no break or periods of light during the days, only darkness and when sunlight will return to earth, it will mark beginning of golden age.

The post claimed that all sun lights will be blocked and solar panels will not generate energy.

It recommended people to stay at home and avoid traveling for safety reasons, stock food, water candles and other essential items.