On Monday, August 21, the first total solar eclipse to be visible in the continental U.S. in 38 years will pass over Greenville in totality. That means that Greenville will have one of the best views of the solar eclipse as the moon will completely cover the sun and block its light from reaching Earth. During a solar eclipse, the moon casts a shadow onto Earth, and a total eclipse enables viewers to see the sun’s atmosphere.
As can be seen in the picture to the right, the path of totality is narrow—with just 14 states being lucky enough to be in its course—while the rest of the country will only be able to see varying degrees of the eclipse. At Wood Creek Dental, we’re proud to be a part of the Greenville community and are happy to share in this rare experience with our patients and everyone in the area.
The Roper Mountain Science Center, located in Greenville, is offering events and information on how to safely view this amazing event. As can be read on the RMSC web page for this celestial affair, this eclipse is special because:
- The last U.S. total eclipse was in Hawaii in 1991
- This is the first total solar eclipse in mainland U.S. since 1979
- This is the only total solar eclipse in Upstate, South Carolina until 2078
- Totality begins in western South Carolina at 2:36 p.m. (EST) on August 21, 2017
- It travels 251 miles across South Carolina and finishes totality at 2:49 p.m. (EST) in Charleston, South Carolina
It’s important to understand how to safely view a solar eclipse, as looking at the sun during this time can severely hurt your eyes. Please visit the RMSC link above to learn how and where you can view this phenomenon in Upstate South Carolina,  and visit the NASA solar eclipse page to learn even more.
If you’re planning a solar eclipse viewing party or will be joining any of the special events for this cosmic occurance, be sure to get your protective eye wear from a reputable vendor and safeguard the health of your eyes. For maintaining your optimal oral health, call Wood Creek Dental today at our Greenville office at 864-288-5300 to schedule your free consultation. We happily serve those who live in Greenville, Simpsonville, Landrum, and nearby areas of South Carolina and North Carolina.
* Image Credit: NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio
