The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has announced that Nigeria will witness its first lunar crescent of 2025 on February 28.
According to NASRDA’s Director of Media and Corporate Communications, Dr. Felix Ale, the crescent is expected to form at 1:45 A.M. West African Time. However, it will only be visible under ideal atmospheric conditions with the support of optical instruments such as binoculars or telescopes.
The agency stated that the crescent would become visible to the naked eye in the evening of the same day, between 6:17 PM and 7:35 PM, depending on the location.
Maiduguri will be the first city to observe the crescent, followed by Yola, Damaturu, Kano, Katsina, Jos, and Kaduna. The phenomenon will later be visible in Enugu, Abuja, and eventually in Lagos and Abeokuta, which will be among the last to witness it.
Observers hoping to catch a glimpse of the crescent are advised to seek locations with an unobstructed view of the western horizon after sunset. The use of optical aids may improve visibility, especially in areas where atmospheric conditions are not ideal.
Dr. Bonaventure Okere, Director of the Centre for Basic Space Science and Astronomy (CBSSA), explained that this phase marks the beginning of the moon’s cycle, which typically lasts 28 days. He noted that the appearance of the new crescent holds significant importance in Islamic tradition, as it is used to determine religious rites such as the commencement of Ramadan.
NASRDA urged researchers, scholars, and religious groups to utilise the findings, adding that further details can be accessed on its official website at www.nasrda.gov.ng.
