| Global Event: | Total Solar Eclipse |
|---|---|
| Local Type: | Total Solar Eclipse in Columbia, South Carolina |
| Began: | Mon, Aug 21, 2017 at 1:12 pm |
| Maximum: | Mon, Aug 21, 2017 at 2:42 pm 1.011 Magnitude |
| Ended: | Mon, Aug 21, 2017 at 4:06 pm |
| Duration: | 2 hours, 53 minutes |
| Totality: | 2 minutes, 31 seconds |
All times shown on this page are local time. | |
August 21, 2017 — Total Solar Eclipse — Columbia
The animation shows what the eclipse approximately looked like in Columbia. Stages and times of the eclipse are outlined below. All times were local time (EDT) for Columbia.
| Phase | Time | Event | Direction | Altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
13:12:53 Mon, Aug 21 | Partial eclipse beginsThe moment the edge of the Moon touches the edge of the Sun is called first contact. | 170° | 67.6° | |
|
14:41:39 Mon, Aug 21 | Totality beginsThe moment the edge of the Moon covers all of the Sun is called second contact. | 222° | 62.1° | |
|
14:42:54 Mon, Aug 21 | Maximum eclipseThe deepest point of the eclipse, with the Sun at its most hidden. | 222° | 62.0° | |
|
14:44:10 Mon, Aug 21 | Totality endsThe moment the edge of the Moon exposes the Sun is called third contact. | 223° | 61.7° | |
|
16:06:12 Mon, Aug 21 | Partial eclipse endsThe moment the edge of the Moon leaves the edge of the Sun is called fourth contact. | 248° | 47.5° |
* Timings for the beginning & end of partial eclipse, the beginning & end of totality, and maximum eclipse are accurate to within a few seconds. This calculation uses a Delta T value of 68.8 seconds.
Timings for other events are approximate—they are included here as a rough guide to features that might be observable. The icons show the position of the Moon against the Sun at each stage.
How to use altitude & direction to find in the sky
This total solar eclipse was fully visible in Columbia. This was a rare and spectacular event that could only be experienced along a relatively narrow strip on the Earth's surface. The eclipse was also visible in other areas, but the Moon did not cover the Sun completely there.
Where the Eclipse Was Seen
Try our new interactive eclipse maps. Zoom in and search for accurate eclipse times and visualizations for any location.
Cloud Coverage (Aug 21)
In the past, this day was cloudy 59% of the time (since 2000).
Solar Eclipses
- When Is the Next Solar Eclipse?
- Different Types of Eclipses
- What Are Solar Eclipses?
- How Often Do Solar Eclipses Occur?
- Total Solar Eclipses
- What Happens at a Total Solar Eclipse?
- Partial Solar Eclipses
- Annular Solar Eclipses
- What Happens at an Annular Eclipse?
- Hybrid Solar Eclipses
- Eclipse Seasons
- Solar Eclipses in History
- Solar Eclipse Myths
- Magnitude of Eclipses
- Accuracy of Our Eclipse Calculations
Protect Your Eyes! Find out how to safely watch solar eclipses here
Never look directly at the Sun without proper eye protection. You can seriously hurt your eyes, and even go blind… read more
Eclipses and Transits Visible in Columbia
| Eclipse Visibility From Columbia | Visibility Worldwide | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 26, 2010 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse | Partial Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| Dec 21, 2010 Total Lunar Eclipse | Total Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| Dec 10, 2011 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse | Total Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| Jun 4, 2012 Partial Lunar Eclipse | Partial Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| Jun 5, 2012 Venus Transit | Venus Transit |  | |
| May 24–25, 2013 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse | Penumbral Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| Oct 18, 2013 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse | Penumbral Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| Nov 3, 2013 Partial Solar Eclipse | Total Solar Eclipse |  | |
| Apr 15, 2014 Total Lunar Eclipse | Total Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| Oct 8, 2014 Total Lunar Eclipse | Total Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| Oct 23, 2014 Partial Solar Eclipse | Partial Solar Eclipse |  | |
| Apr 4, 2015 Partial Lunar Eclipse | Total Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| Sep 27–28, 2015 Total Lunar Eclipse | Total Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| Mar 23, 2016 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse | Penumbral Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| May 9, 2016 Mercury Transit | Mercury Transit |  | |
| Feb 10, 2017 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse | Penumbral Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| Aug 21, 2017 Total Solar Eclipse | Total Solar Eclipse |  | |
| Jan 31, 2018 Partial Lunar Eclipse | Total Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| Jan 20–21, 2019 Total Lunar Eclipse | Total Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| Nov 11, 2019 Mercury Transit | Mercury Transit |  | |
Note: Click on the date link for details in Columbia, or the path map image for global details. Currently shown eclipse is highlighted. | |||
Next total solar eclipse visible in Columbia
Next annular eclipse visible in Columbia