Columbia, SC – South Carolinians will have chances to spot eclipses in 2026, but astronomy experts say the most dramatic views this year will favor the Central and Western United States, placing much of the Southeast — including South Carolina — just outside the prime viewing zone.
According to astronomical forecasts, four eclipses will occur in 2026, including two solar and two lunar eclipses. While South Carolina will see portions of several events, timing means local viewers will miss the longest and most vivid moments of the year’s most anticipated eclipse.
🌕 March 3, 2026 — Total Lunar Eclipse (Best Viewed West of South Carolina)
This is the top eclipse event of 2026 for U.S. residents, but South Carolina sits near the eastern edge of optimal viewing.
According to eclipse timing data, the Moon will enter Earth’s darkest shadow during the early morning hours Tuesday, March 3. Viewers in the Central and Western U.S. — including Chicago, St. Louis, Dallas, Denver, Phoenix, and the West Coast — will experience the eclipse in full, with a long-lasting deep red “Blood Moon.”
In Columbia, Charleston, Greenville, Spartanburg, Myrtle Beach, and Rock Hill, the Moon will be low in the western sky as the eclipse reaches its peak. Residents may see partial phases and possibly the start of totality, but the deepest color and longest duration will occur farther west.
👉 Lunar eclipses are safe to view without special glasses.
🌞 August 12, 2026 — Solar Eclipse (Partial in South Carolina)
A major total solar eclipse will cross Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain, drawing international attention. In South Carolina, the event will appear only as a partial solar eclipse.
During the late morning hours, the Sun will look slightly obscured statewide. Certified solar eclipse glasses are required for safe viewing.
🌕 August 27–28, 2026 — Partial Lunar Eclipse
A second lunar eclipse later in the summer will also be visible across South Carolina, though only modest shadowing of the Moon is expected, making it a quieter skywatching event.
🧭 South Carolina & U.S. Eclipse Takeaway
- ⭐ Best U.S. viewing: March 3 lunar eclipse (Central & Western states)
- 👀 South Carolina viewing: Partial to early total phases
- ☀️ Solar eclipse: Partial locally; totality occurs overseas
