On Monday, August 21st, the United States was able to witness a total solar eclipse. The last total solar eclipse viewed from the United States was on February 26, 1979 whose path passed through Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and North Dakota. This year the path of totality started in Salem, Oregon and ended in Charleston, South Carolina. Fortunate enough, Orangeburg, South Carolina was in the path as well as South Carolina State University’s Oliver C. Dawson Stadium being used an official site to watch the eclipse. While it was extremely hot as everyone waited patiently for totality, viewers were entertained by South Carolina State University’s Marching 101 band and cheerleaders. A white balloon was released from the fifty yard line to record the total solar eclipse from our location for the rest of the world to see. Around 1:14pm, the moon slowly started to cover the sun. It wasn’t until 2:40pm that everyone saw with every minute how dark it was getting. When it hit totality, everyone in the stadium went crazy! I was speechless and amazed at the sight before me. The whole experience was worth the wait. I plan to try to see the next solar eclipse in 2023 and the next total solar eclipse in 2024. Everyone should get to experience this at least once in their lifetime.
