Courtesy of NASA
The buzz has been building for months; the big moment is nearly upon us. On Monday, Aug. 21, South Carolina will witness its first total solar eclipse in decades, and plenty of activities are planned statewide to help us enjoy this rare celestial event right over our heads. For most of us, it’s a brand-new experience—easy to understand if you’re a little in the dark about how to watch it. So, here are a few helpful tips.
1. Get in position.
Location is the most important detail for ensuring your ability to witness this total solar eclipse.
Anyone in North America will be able to see the partial-eclipse phases in the minutes before and after the total eclipse (as long as they’re wearing eclipse glasses—see tip 4, Protect your eyes). But to see the shorter and much-rarer total eclipse of the sun, something that hasn’t happened in South Carolina since 1970 and won’t again until 2052, you must stake out a spot in the 70-mile-wide path of totality. Being even a smidgeon outside that path means you won’t experience the full effects of the total solar eclipse, and that’s the critical point.
“If you want to see this once-in-a-lifetime event, you need to drive somewhere in the path of totality,” says Greg Cornwell, planetarium specialist at Roper Mountain Science Center in Greenville.
Not every part of South Carolina is in the eclipse’s path of totality. You can see a general map of the eclipse path at SCLiving.coop/eclipse/map. To get really specific, type in your address on the interactive map at xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/solar_eclipses/TSE_2017_GoogleMapFull.html to see if you’re in the eclipse path. Also, eclipse2017.org lists every community in the path of totality and the precise times totality will start there.
2. Know what to expect.
Before the big day, start with the big picture. You can get a complete overview of the total solar eclipse from South Carolina’s perspective at SCLiving.coop/eclipse. For a nationwide scope, check out eclipse2017.nasa.gov and GreatAmericanEclipse.com.
Here it is in short: South Carolina is one of only 12 states in the path of totality, where all light from the sun will be temporarily blocked. The first glimpse of a partial phase of the eclipse—when the moon begins to move between sun and Earth—will reach the uppermost parts of South Carolina shortly after 1 p.m.
Starting around 2:36 p.m., the Upstate will be in total darkness. In the Midlands, the partial eclipse will start around 1:13 p.m., with the full darkness of totality around 2:41 p.m. In Charleston, the partial phase begins around 1:16 p.m.; totality around 2:46 p.m. On the back side of totality, expect another partial phase as the moon finishes its path across the sun.
Totality will last anywhere from 22 seconds to 2 minutes, 38 seconds, in South Carolina, depending on how close you are to the center line of the shadow—shorter times on the edges, longer times toward the middle. Some parts of the state are completely outside the path of totality. If that’s you, the most you’ll see is a partial eclipse—not the main show. Everyone watching the partial phases of the eclipse, no matter where they are, must wear protective eclipse glasses to avoid permanently damaging their eyes.
If you’re in the path to witness totality, here are some cool things to watch for, besides total darkness midafternoon:
- the temperature drops a few degrees
- birds stop chirping
- nocturnal animals become active
- Baily’s beads, small points of sunlight, shine through valleys around the edge of the moon in just the few seconds before and after totality
- a “360-degree sunset” makes the entire sky appear as if the sun were setting along the horizon, in the final moments before totality
- the sun’s corona, not normally visible to the naked eye, can be seen
- planets near the sun will be visible in the darkened sky
3. Find your preferred viewing spot.
Maybe you’ve heard claims from various locales about being “eclipse central” or “eclipse headquarters” or “the best” place to watch the eclipse. The truth is, there’s no one place that owns that title. All you really need is a clear view of the sun, be it an open field or parking lot, out on the lake, or in your own backyard. The sun should be high in the sky for the eclipse’s early afternoon arrival; you just don’t want any trees or tall buildings (or, fingers crossed, clouds) in your line of sight.
“You choose where you want to see this,” says Merritt McNeely, marketing director for the S.C. State Museum and member of the steering committee for Total Eclipse Weekend Columbia, S.C. “Are you an outdoor adventurer? If so, Congaree National Swamp might be an excellent place for you. Are you an astronomy enthusiast? If so, the State Museum might be best for you. Are you a family of four who has the day off and you want to watch this awesome experience during a baseball game? Go to the Fireflies game.”
As totality time approaches, be settled in position—no last-minute dashes to your chosen spot, because traffic may be snarled with thousands of visitors to the state, looking for good viewing spots.
4. Protect your eyes.
Still don’t have your eclipse glasses? Act quickly. You may be able to score some free glasses at eclipse-related events in your community. Or, you can buy your own. Safe eclipse glasses meet the ISO 12312-2 international standard for products made for direct observation of the sun. Online retailers like Amazon.com and eclipse-related websites are selling eclipse glasses certified to this standard, including:
Certified eclipse-viewing glasses have language on the back indicating that they meet the appropriate safety. If you don’t see that certification, don’t use the glasses. If the solar filters on your glasses are scratched or damaged, discard them and do not use them. Sunglasses, cameras, binoculars or telescopes without appropriate filters are not safe for viewing the eclipse. Find more eye-safety tips from American Astronomical Society at eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/safe-viewing.
5. Make it a party.
Wherever you are for the eclipse, make plans to see it with friends—it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most people, and you’re going to want to talk about it. Maybe you want to host your own gathering with an eclipse-themed menu—Sun Chips? Moon Pies? Ice-cold Corona or Blue Moon beers, or Capri Sun juices for the kids?
NASA’s got some tips for hosting an eclipse party. You’ll find ideas for party locations and publicity at eclipse2017.nasa.gov/host-eclipse-party, including fliers you can download and customize for your special event, as well as crafts and activities for your guests.
Don’t forget to take care of yourself and your guests. It’ll be an August afternoon in South Carolina, so have water, sunscreen and air conditioning at the ready. Also, it’s a Monday, so you may need to ask off from work or find out if the boss is planning to close up shop so everyone can watch. Many schools have rearranged their schedules to make sure students get to witness the eclipse; check with your student’s school to get details.
6. Or, piggyback on someone else’s party.
Creativity abounds when it comes to activities being planned statewide to observe the eclipse. Want to combine the eclipse with some baseball? The Columbia Fireflies, the Charleston RiverDogs and the Greenville Drive have home games that afternoon, with special events planned to celebrate the eclipse.
Columbia has gathered a lengthy list of pre-eclipse weekend events under the banner of Total Eclipse Weekend Columbia, S.C., including a visit to the State Museum by Apollo 16 astronaut Gen. Charles Duke. The weekend gets a high-tech start Aug. 19 with the inaugural lighting of a laser-artwork installation over the Congaree River between the Gervais and Blossom Street bridges. Designed by artist Chris Robinson in collaboration with EngenuitySC, “Southern Lights” is, like the eclipse, a rarity—one of only two such permanent laser installations worldwide, with laser power unlike most people have ever seen, Robinson says.
Check the Calendar of Events at SCLiving.coop/calendar for some of the places around South Carolina that have special events planned.
Visit these sites to find the eclipse experience that’s right for you:
- GoDarkCharleston.com (Charleston area)
- TotalEclipseColumbiaSC.com and scmuseum.org/eclipse (Columbia area and the S.C. State Museum)
- ropermountain.org (Greenville area and Roper Mountain Science Center)
- bju.edu/eclipse (Bob Jones University, Greenville)
- ultimatespf.com (Hammock Coast area)
- santeecoopercountry.org (Lake Marion/Lake Moultrie area)
- rpsec.usca.edu/Events/Eclipse/SolarEclipse2017.html (Aiken area and Ruth Patrick Science Education Center)
- clemson.edu/eclipse (Clemson University)
- discoversouthcarolina.com/articles/come-to-south-carolina-for-the-great-eclipse-of-2017 (statewide)
- swu.edu/eclipse (Eclipse over Pickens County event at Southern Wesleyan University in Central)
7. As a last resort ...
If the closest you can get to the total solar eclipse is in front of a computer screen, check out nasa.gov/eclipselive, which will show live video streams of the eclipse from locations across the country, including images captured by high-altitude balloons from the College of Charleston.
Still, the real deal is preferable. “Lots of things will occur as the moon moves across the sun,” says Steve Rodney, assistant professor at the University of South Carolina’s Department of Physics and Astronomy. “No photo or video of the sun will ever capture what that moment is like.”
_____
Related stories
Total blackout – Get ready for the once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse sweeping across South Carolina this summer on Aug. 21.
How to protect your eyes – Proper eye protection is critical for safely viewing partial and total solar eclipses. Use these tips to protect your vision.
How to watch the eclipse – This video from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center explains how to protect your eyes while you enjoy the Aug. 21 total solar eclipse.
Are you ready for the eclipse? – Eclipse glasses are vital to protect your vision during the Aug. 21 total solar eclipse.
The geometry of an eclipse – See how the positions of the sun, moon and earth create shadows that give us a partial or total solar eclipse.
By the numbers: The Great Solar Eclipse – A total solar eclipse is, for most people, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Take a look at the numbers that make the 2017 eclipse special.
Eclipse tips – First time viewing an eclipse? Get some advice about how to make the most of it.
How long will I be in the dark? – Find out what time the eclipse starts in your community and how to position yourself for the longest viewing times.