COLUMBIA - The South Carolina State Museum will host Lunar Eclipse Night at the Museum from 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 27. This special event will give guests the opportunity to experience a rare celestial event from the Museum’s Observatory, with a terrace overlooking Columbia’s Vista.
“Lunar eclipses are one of those rare opportunities where you can look up at the night sky and experience astronomy happening in real time,” said Ani Simmons, SCSM Director of Audience Engagement. “We’re excited to invite the community to explore the Museum after dark, experience the lunar eclipse, and learn from our amazing Astronomy educators. It’s going to be a night that will offer something for everyone.”
Museum Members can start the evening early with an exclusive Member Night: A Century Under the Stars, sponsored by Nothing Bundt Cakes. This members-only program will celebrate the 100th birthday of the Museum’s Alvan Clark Telescope, a treasured piece of the Museum’s history that has inspired curiosity and wonder for generations. Members will also be able to enjoy after-hours access to the Museum, hands-on activities, and a member-only showing of the planetarium show “Two Small Pieces of Glasses,” which is included with an RSVP. Celebratory bundt cakes and refreshments will be provided.
Following the Member Night, Lunar Eclipse Night at the Museum will begin at 8:30 p.m. The evening will feature night-sky viewing of a deep partial lunar eclipse, along with access to four floors of ongoing and changing exhibitions, hands-on activities, planetarium shows, and more. Additionally, attendees will be able to participate in telescope viewing with members of the Midlands Astronomy Club and USC Department of Physics and Astronomy. In the event of bad weather, guests can still enjoy the eclipse together by watching a livestream of it inside of the planetarium.
The Aug. 27 eclipse will be the last major lunar eclipse visible from Columbia until 2029. During the deep partial lunar eclipse, most (but not all) of the Moon will appear dark red, while a small portion will remain brightly illuminated at maximum eclipse.
Guests can view the eclipse from the Museum’s Observatory terrace, which provides a view of the Columbia skyline and the night sky. The Museum’s Astro Hub team will also lead hands-on activities, including air compressor paper rocket launches and more.
For an additional cost, guests can experience a planetarium show lineup featuring:
- Two Small Pieces of Glass: a 30-minute look at the history of the telescope, including how they work and how they have dramatically changed our view of the universe and our place in it over time.
- Laser Lights Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon: In this sound and light entertainment show, artists have visualized Pink Floyd’s iconic album through a combination of graphics and abstract patterns, all created with laser lights and choreographed to the music.
General admission to Lunar Eclipse Night at the Museum includes access to four floors of exhibitions and night-sky viewing in the Observatory. Admission is $13 for adults, $11 for seniors ages 62 and older and $10 for children ages 3-12. Planetarium shows are an additional $5. Museum members receive free general admission. For tickets and additional information, visit scmuseum.org.