LIVE UPDATES: Partial solar eclipse as seen at Falls Park in Greenville and in the Upstate
The partial solar eclipse will start in Greenville, Spartanburg and Anderson at 1:51 p.m. It will peak at 2:09 p.m. and end at 4:25 p.m. Check your zip code to find the exact times.
Are you celebrating at home with MoonPies, SunChips, Eclipse gum, and Sunkist soda or are you attending one of the many watch parties happening in the Upstate?
During Monday's solar eclipse, Upstate residents can look forward to partly cloudy weather.
According to the National Weather Service at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, the chance of rain on April 8 will be less than 10%, with clouds covering 30-35% of the area.
Eclipse photos from Greenville, Spartanburg
Photographers Ken Ruinard and McKenzie Lange shot photographs of the eclipse in Greenville and Spartanburg counties Monday afternoon.
Students code the path of eclipse
Jessica Davis' first-grade class at Thomas Heyward Academy in Ridgeland learned how to use ozobot coding robots to code the path of the eclipse during computer specials in anticipation of the eclipse on Monday, April 8.
Students in Heidi Malphrus' third-grade class drew a picture of what a total eclipse looks like during their class time.
Shellie Murdaugh
Peak eclipse in downtown Spartanburg
The peak partial solar eclipse took place around 3:15 p.m. Everyone was gazing at the sun with their glasses, mesmerized by this exciting moment.
It was quite a sight and people were noticing the difference in light.
Naina Kohli, a student at VCom, was out with friends and classmates watching the eclipse.“It’s awesome," she said. "I feel super cool to be alive to witness this. We actually took an exam this morning and had the afternoon off to come watch this. When I watch it the next time I’ll be able to remember what it was like when I first watched it and reflect on it.”
Joanna Johnson
Painting the eclipse at Unity Park
Raamen Stallings was painting in Unity Park to celebrate and commemorate the solar eclipse.“We are trying to eclipse in equinox; in this piece,” he said. “Trying to replicate the perfect time during spring alongside the eclipse and its transitional phases.”Stallings is a 2022/2023 Brandon Fellow through the Greenville Center for Creative Arts.
A.J. Jackson
Solar eclipse as seen from Falls Park
Photographer Ken Ruinard shot this photo of the partial solar eclipse from Falls Park using a 1,200 mm f8 800isp 1000th sec shutter at 2:36 p.m.
Ken Ruinard
Clemson students ready for eclipse
The Clemson University Department of Physics and Astronomy invited the community to watch the solar eclipse from noon until 4 p.m.
The viewing party will be held on the lawn between Martin, Long, and Kinard Halls, 220 Parkway Dr., Clemson.
Joseph Wiggins, a sophomore from Charleston, said it was a once-in-a-lifetime event. "I didn't witness it in 2017 because it was cloudy," he said. "Hopefully, today will be clear."
Georgia native Alex Powie, 22, said the next eclipse won't occur until 20 years from now. "It's cool that Clemson is having this watch party for the students," he said.
"I'm excited to see the eclipse," student Harrison Holt said. "I've always been into astronomy. I always wanted to see the solar eclipse. I didn't get a great view of the one in 2017 due to the clouds, so I'm prepared for this one."
Travis Rose
Spartanburg Science Center prepares for eclipse
Mae Webster, Education Director for Spartanburg Science Center, was preparing for the Science Center's eclipse event early Monday afternoon.
The Spartanburg Science Center, located at 200 E St John St., was hosting a free, outdoor watch party from 1:30-4:30 p.m.
“We have 85 people registered and a lot more on the waitlist, we are hoping people come out and learn about what’s going on," she said. "We have a few games out here and get to know each other and watch the eclipse since we won’t have another until 2044.”
Mary Levens, executive director of the Spartanburg Science Center, agreed about the importance of this once-in-a-lifetime event.
“I think it’s important people understand what’s happening and how the USA won’t see another one in 2044. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance that you want to see. This solar eclipse, you really get to see those bodies move,” said Mary Levens, Executive Director of the Spartanburg Science Center.
Lori Ruppe, of Spartanburg, was out with her grandson, Cruize Athens 7, of Simpsonville, at Barnet Park around 2:30 p.m.
“We wanted to spend a special day together," she said. "It’s a great place to be. There’s other kids, activities, it’s a great day.”
Cruize agreed.
“I want to see the ‘ring of fire’ since the sun will be behind the moon, it’ll look like fire," he said. "My grandpa told me about the last one (in 2017) and I’ve never seen one. It’s going to be pretty cool.”
Joanna Johnson
Setting up for Lake Cooley eclipse party
Kristie Oliver, recreation manager at Lake Cooley Outdoor Education Center, held a junior ranger solar eclipse poster which will be available to eclipse party attendees before the Partial Eclipse Block Party at the center on Monday, April 8, 2024.
She was also arranging solar eclipse activities for kids who will be attending the event.
In Inman, folks will be celebrating the eclipse at an event hosted by Spartanburg Parks at the Lake Cooley Outdoor Education Center, with snacks, crafts, activities, and solar eclipse viewing on the lake with kayaks and paddleboards.
McKenzie Lange
Checking out eclipse glasses at Falls Park in Greenville
Kayden Day, left, Ayden Day, and Jayde Day of Augusta, Georgia, check out the sun with proper solar eclipse glasses with their father Dion Day at Falls Park at 12:45 p.m., about an hour before the start of a solar eclipse in Greenville, S.C. Monday, April 8, 2024.
The peak time is estimated at 3:08 p.m.
Ken Ruinard
Latest eclipse forecast for Greenville, Upstate
Those watching today's eclipse event in the Upstate will get to enjoy warm weather while doing so. Anderson, Greenville, and Spartanburg counties will have temperatures in the mid-70s, according to weather.com.
According to the National Weather Service at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, there will be 40%-50% cloud cover around the time of the eclipse, which may obscure it from view.
"The cloud cover will mostly be higher clouds, generally about 20,000 feet, so it's mostly higher cirrus clouds over the area during that time," stated Jeffrey Taylor with the NWS.
Click here to read the full forecast.
Nina Tran
Jasper County students learning about the eclipse in class, virtually
The solar eclipse will be a chance for at least two schools in Jasper County to learn more about what an eclipse means as they have the opportunity to watch it firsthand in a safe manner with special solar eclipse glasses.The schedule for the eclipse in the Lowcountry will begin around the Savannah, Georgia area at 1:50 p.m., with the peak happening around 3:07 p.m. and ending around 4:22 p.m., according to the National Weather Service in Charleston.
The Jasper County School District received a special donation of solar eclipse glasses from one of their vendors, Chartwells K-12, which provides meals for students of all ages in public and independent schools across the country, according to their website.
Jasper County School District Superintendent Rechel Anderson thanked Chartwells in a statement.
The district said the superintendent called upon their support, and they answered without hesitation.
"Thank you, Chartwells, for ensuring our students could experience this astronomical event safely and for being a valued business partner!" Anderson said.
Royal Live Oaks Academy Charter School students will also have the chance to view the eclipse during a virtual lesson, school officials said.
"Royal Live Oaks Academy Charter School will be celebrating the eclipse with a virtual lesson during our E-Learning day on April 8, 2024," Royal Live Oaks Academy Charter School Co-Founder/Executive Director Karen Wicks said.
Wicks said all students were sent home for spring break last week with solar eclipse glasses.
"On April 8, our students will join their science teachers virtually to learn about the eclipse," Wicks said. "Students will begin by reading an article about how a solar eclipse occurs with the moon passing in front of the sun. Next, students will plot the sun’s path using NASA’s interactive Eclipse Explorer."
The lesson will then continue with eclipse safety and how to view the eclipse using the glasses. Lastly, students will calculate how long until the next eclipse!
Wicks said at 4 p.m., students will be able to go outside and put all their knowledge to use by viewing the eclipse using their glasses that were provided by Royal Live Oaks Academy and explain to their families what they learned.
Polaris Tech Charter School in Ridgeland said there had been no eclipse lessons planned as the school will be in session only the first half of the day Monday, according to its spokesman.
John Paul II Catholic School in Ridgeland was also in session, however, no eclipse lessons had been planned for Monday, according to a school spokesperson.
Shellie Murdaugh
Are you ready for this afternoon's eclipse?
We've compiled everything you need to know -- weather, watch parties, what to wear -- about this afternoon's eclipse here.
What time is the 2024 solar eclipse?
The total eclipse will begin in Mexico at about 11:07 a.m. PDT, Monday before crossing into Texas at 1:27 p.m. CDT. It will end in Maine at 3:35 p.m. EDT. The partial eclipse will last for a while longer. Even if you're not in the path of totality and won't see the full eclipse, you may still see a percentage of it.
To find out exactly when the eclipse will be happening in your area, you can search USA TODAY's database by ZIP code for a viewing guide.
Click here to read the article.
USA Today
What did the total eclipse look like in 2017 in Greenville?
In Greenville and Clemson, photographers captured images of folks wearing protective solar eclipse glasses at Falls Park Bridge, by the Reedy River, and at Fluor Field and Clemson University.
What is the difference between a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse?
A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon comes in between the Earth and the sun, blocking its light from reaching our planet, and leading to a period of darkness lasting several minutes. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon and the sun are on exact opposite sides of Earth. The Earth blocks the sunlight that normally reaches the moon. Instead of that sunlight hitting the moon’s surface, Earth's shadow falls on it.
A lunar eclipse can last for a few hours, while a solar eclipse lasts only a few minutes. Solar eclipses also rarely occur, while lunar eclipses are comparatively more frequent. While at least two partial lunar eclipses happen every year, total lunar eclipses are still rare, NASA says. Another major difference: No special glasses or gizmos are needed to view the lunar eclipse, and people can directly stare at the moon.
Click here to read the article.
USA Today
Reporters Nina Tran, A.J. Jackson, Joanna Johnson, Shellie Murdaugh, and Travis Rose and photographers Ken Ruinard and McKenzie Lange and content coach Jose Franco contributed to this article. USA Today contributed to this article.
This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: LIVE UPDATES: Partial solar eclipse seen in Greenville, Spartanburg
