We’ve
established that the Upstate is THE place to be for the total solar eclipse on
August 21st, with 2 minutes and 40 seconds of darkness as the moon
blocks out the sun at 2:38pm. We will not experience another total eclipse
until 2078 (although in April of 2024 South Carolinians will only have to
travel as far north as Indianapolis to experience a total eclipse in the United
States)! Hotels in the area have pretty much been sold out for the last couple
of months, so if you’ve not already made plans you might be left behind in the…
light?
However,
for those of you headed to experience the eclipse anywhere between Newport,
Oregon to Charleston, SC, here are the top solar eclipse necessities, courtesy
of Femme au Foyer.
1.
Eclipse glasses. This one is non-negotiable; the danger to your retinas is so
real that Greenville County schools have pushed back the first day of school so
that the eclipse doesn’t coincide with school pick-up. We ordered ours online,
where they can be had for a very reasonable price. Be aware that although
adjustable (can be folded smaller or larger to fit various heads), regular
glasses might be too big for kids. I found this family pack that has smaller
sizes for the boys… (Note, your camera and telescope also need a special filter
if you’re planning on looking at or photographing the eclipse with them.)
2. When
sending out your party invites or ‘wish you were here’ cards, you’ll want to
pick up Total Eclipse of the Sun postmarks. Be ready to splurge an additional
25 cents for the fancy envelope, which blocks the sun from hitting the stamps;
you need it because the stamps are heat sensitive. The first U.S. stamp to use
thermochromic ink, placing your finger over the black disc on the stamp causes
the ink to change from black to clear to reveal an underlying image of the moon
(it reverts back once it cools). The photograph that appears on the stamp is
from an actual total solar eclipse that was seen over Jalu, Libya in 2006,
taken by astrophysicist Fred Espenak who also photographed the full moon visible
underneath.
3.
Soundtrack. Bonnie Tyler makes the cut with Total Eclipse of the Heart.
Blinded
by the Light and Eclipse by Pink Floyd (Dark Side of the Moon) are also on the
playlist. However for the 2 minutes and 40 seconds of darkness we’ll be
listening to Bruce and Dancing in the Dark. Maybe afterwards we’ll put on Carly Simon’s You’re
so Vain; “…you flew your Lear jet up to Nova Scotia to see a total eclipse of
the sun.”
4.
Refreshments. For your afternoon coffee break, pick up a bag of Total Eclipse
from Leopard Forest, coffee roasters located in Travelers Rest. The dark
roasted coffee blend of ½ Organically Grown Sumatra, ¼ Rainforest Alliance
Certified Brazil & Colombia, and ¼ Farmer-Direct Zimbabwe is an earthy,
smoky, wake-up type of coffee according to the Leopard Forest website. Order
online or pick up a package at the Forest Coffeehouse, Swamp Rabbit Café & Grocery or one of the dozens of other retailers in SC, NC, TN, VA and KY that
carry Leopard Forest. Guaranteed to keep you awake until 2:38pm!
Looking
for something other than coffee? Heron Hill has an “Eclipse” red wine out, and
FiftyFifty Brewing Company out of CA has an Imperial Eclipse Stout. Or, being
as we're in The South, Casey Jones Distillery is offering a Total Eclipse Moonshine….
5. Snacks.
Astrobake these eclipse cookies for the perfect eclipse treat, although if you’re looking for the easier route
there are plenty of store-bought options: Eclipse gum, Sun chips, Moon Pies…
There
are plenty of great articles on finding an Eclipse Party in the Upstate, so if you’re
still looking for the perfect place to experience totality, you might want to
check out the links I’ve added below. Happy eclipsing!!!
* NASA has
partnered with video platform Stream to pull off an unprecedented livestream of
the eclipse using a network of 50 high-altitude weather balloons equipped with
cameras. Drifting at an average altitude of 100,000 feet, these balloons will
offer a view of the August eclipse unlike any other. According to Stream, this
livestream event is expected to be viewed by more than 100 million people. Find
it here!
* Roper
Mountain Science Center’s Eclipse Extravaganza is sold out, however there are
still tickets available for the Friday night Eclipse: The Sun Revealed Starry Nights program, and RMSC is selling eclipse glasses in the lobby. The Children’s Museum of the Upstate also has eclipse programming, as does Lake Conestee Nature Park. For a great roundup of the events happening in Greenville and vicinity, check out GVL Today's list of Where to go for the Total Solar Eclipse in the Upstate!
I saw a beer called Total Eclipse of the Hops!
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