People across the nation are anxiously awaiting the total solar eclipse August 21st. South Carolinians are among them, as the Palmetto State will be one of the best places in the United States to view the event. The 65-mile wide path of totality, or area of total eclipse, will pass through Greenville, Columbia and parts of Charleston. Lawn chairs and sun block will help people to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime event. But two Midlands ophthalmologists remind us that the most essential element to viewing the eclipse is proper eye protection. The sun’s rays can burn the retinas of unprotected eyes and produce legal blindness. Today we get good tips on safely watching the eclipse.
On August 21, 2017, millions of people across the United States will see a total eclipse of the Sun. South Carolina will be a significant destination for the eclipse because it will be the nearest spot within the path of totality for at least 100 million Americans in the Atlantic Seaboard and Florida.Cell phone service and smartphone Internet are expected to be unavailable inside the path of totality due to the large concentration of people. Cell phone companies will reinforce their network capacity for emergency responders. However, this will not increase capacity for commercial use. Visitors to South Carolina for the eclipse are encouraged to print paper versions of directions, lodging and restaurant reservations, and tickets to local eclipse events they plan to attend.Reputable Vendors of Solar Filters & Viewers, according to the American Astronomical Society and the National Science Foundation.
Proper Eye Protection is a Must for Enjoying August's Solar Eclipse
NPS/Neal Herbert
