Even though the CSRA will only see up to 75 percent of the upcoming solar eclipse, those who plan to watch are still excited.
“The solar eclipse of 2024 will be total across a big swath in the United States,” Gary Senn, who serves as the director of the Ruth Patrick Science Center, said.
People across the United States will have a chance to see something special as a solar eclipse makes its way across the United States April 8.
The solar eclipse will take place during the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia.
Senn said the eclipse is expected to start in the Texas, travel to the middle part of county and up north to upstate New York area.
He said those areas are expected to get dark, but locally there shouldn’t be that much of a change.
“That is a magnificent thing to experience,” he said.
The eclipse is expected to begin in the local area around 1:58 p.m., reaching its peak at 3:08 p.m., and will end around 4:23 p.m.
The last total solar eclipse to go across America was in 2017, in which it started on the West Coast and ended in the Southeast.
During the 2017 eclipse, an estimated 215 million adults were able to see the eclipse, according to NASA. Senn said in 2017, part of Aiken County was in totality and many people got to experience it.
Viewing options and safety
Those who would like to view the partial solar eclipse can attend a free event at The Ruth Patrick Science Center, located on the campus of USC Aiken.
The event will allow people in the area to view the eclipse safely and will provide solar-safe approved glasses.
Senn said he wants to remind people to protect their eyes from the sun.
Senn said there are a number of ways to view the eclipse, such as purchasing eclipse glass that are guaranteed ISO on the back of the glass, and special telescopes with filters . He said an indirect way would to view the eclipse is for people to take their hands and make a small hole, while the sun is shining through the hole and see the eclipse.
“If you are going to look at it, which we encourage people to do, make sure you do so safely,” he said.
In Aiken, there is still time to purchase sunglasses for the event. Glasses can be purchased at the main office at the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Saturday from 6-8 p.m. and Monday beginning at 8:30 a.m.
