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Get Eclipse T-Shirts At Chamber, But We’re Out Of Glasses!

August 9, 2017 | Posted By: [email protected]

In
case you haven’t heard already, there’s a solar eclipse happening Monday, August 21! Because South Carolina is 1 of only 10 states through which the
center line of totality passes, the solar eclipse has been estimated to bring 1 million visitors to the Palmetto State, according to NASA. 

To prepare for the total eclipse, stop by the visitors center to and pick up one of the “I survived the Lake Murray Dam solar eclipse” t-shirts. Shirts
sizes small to extra large are $15 each and $20 for size extra-extra large.

We are currently out of eclipse glasses, but here’s how you can get them:

  1. The Chamber will be closed August 21 as the staff will be helping provide a spectacular viewing experience for people at the Lake Murray Dam. At 11
    a.m., gates will open to the parks on either side where we will be handing guests free water and eclipse glasses (while supplies last). All parking
    at the Lake Murray Dam Park Sites will be first come first serve. $3 Cars/Trucks, $2 Motorcycles, $5 Buses.

  2. The South Carolina State Museum’s Cotton Mill Exchange has special posters, prints, viewing glasses, t-shirts and more available for purchase.
    http://scmuseum.org/eclipse/shop/  

  3. Make your own solar viewing projector that fits right over the eyepiece of your telescope! This simple & inexpensive device makes it easy for many
    people to observe the Sun simultaneously — and safely! https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/eclipse-viewing

  4. Find other events for the solar eclipse on the community calendar.
 
To make your plans for August 21, here’s a timeline of how the eclipse will take place according to Total Eclipse Columbia, SC:
  • 1:13 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) | Partial eclipse begins.
    • The process of the sky darkening is so gradual that it is not discernible. However, when the moon totally covers the sun at totality, darkness
      falls very rapidly.
  • 2:41-2:44 p.m. EDT | Total solar eclipse (100% “totality”) is reached. (Remove eclipse glasses when darkness falls, and put them back on when daylight returns.)
    • From 2 minutes and 30 seconds to 2 minutes and 36 seconds of darkness in greater Columbia, S.C., area
    • At the S.C. State House at Gervais and Assembly, totality will begin at 2:41:51 p.m. and end at 2:44:21 p.m.
  • Want to calculate the exact start time for totality for your location? Use this helpful website recommended by the South Carolina
    State Museum astronomy team: https://eclipsecountdown.com/