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A partial lunar eclipse is coming to grace South Carolina’s skies later this week. The last lunar eclipse in SC happened earlier this year, in March.
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You’ll have plenty of time to see the astronomical event. It will be visible in Columbia starting at 9:23 p.m. on Thursday, reach its peak at 12:12 a.m. on Friday, and will end at 3:01 a.m the same day.
It won’t be a total lunar eclipse, which means the Earth sits directly between the sun and the moon, blocking sunlight and allowing the Earth’s shadow to cover the moon completely. However, this upcoming astronomical event will be extremely deep, allowing viewers to see the moon turn almost entirely blood-red.
Here’s what to know about the event, and where you can best see it in all its glory in Columbia:
What’s a lunar eclipse?
The Earth, sun, and moon line up at the right time anywhere from four to seven times a year to create either a lunar or solar eclipse, albeit a lunar eclipse is much less rare.
During a lunar eclipse, Earth’s shadow obscures the moon. During a solar eclipse, the moon blocks the sun from view, according to NASA.
Over the course of a few hours, Earth moves between the sun and the moon, blocking sunlight from reaching the moon’s surface and dimming it. Thankfully, the astronomical event is at least visible from half of Earth.
A partial lunar eclipse, which is what South Carolinians will see, occurs when Earth’s alignment between the sun and the moon isn’t perfect, and some sunlight can still reach the moon’s surface.
However, the moon will be 93% covered by Earth’s umbra, the darkest, central part of a shadow, casting the majority of it in the red and orange of a blood moon.
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Where to see the lunar eclipse in Columbia?
The lunar eclipse will be visible with just your naked eyes, but some spots will grant a better view.
For example, the SC State Museum is hosting a special event between 8:30 p.m. and 1 a.m., allowing attendees to see the lunar eclipse from its museum Observatory, with a terrace overlooking the Columbia’s Vista area.
Guests will also be able to watch a livestream of the lunar eclipse inside the museum.
There’s a chance of rain during the lunar eclipse, which will force the museum to halt outdoor telescope viewing if it happens.
Museum members can get in for free, and non-members will have to pay $13 for general admission tickets. Children’s tickets are $10, and senior tickets are $11.
When’s the next lunar eclipse?
You should take the chance and see the upcoming lunar eclipse if you have the time or patience. The next major lunar eclipse is years away.
On Jan 12, 2028, SC will experience another partial lunar eclipse, but it will barely be visible.
A total lunar eclipse will be visible for South Carolinians on June 26, 2029. Mark your calendars.
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