CARBONDALE, Ill. — Mark your calendars for the 2024 solar eclipse!
A total solar eclipse will be visible on April 8, and Carbondale, IL is on the center-line path of totality, meaning viewers in the area will be able to see four minutes and nine seconds of eclipse totality. That's nearly double what was seen during the last solar eclipse in 2017.
The eclipse from six years ago was on August 21 and stretched across the entire United States. However, its point of greatest duration was just a few miles south of Carbondale. It puts the city in the path for both eclipses - a feat they claim isn't true for any other location in the world.
After 2024 there will not be another solar eclipse in the United States until 2044, and one won't be visible over Southern Illinois for 350 years.
But all of this publicity has meant that hotel rooms in the area are difficult to find.
To help, Southern Illinois University is offering residence hall room reservations for eclipse enthusiasts.
It's $750 (plus tax) for five days and four nights from Friday April 5 through Tuesday April 9. Each room sleeps a maximum of three people. To learn more or to make a reservation, you can click here.
Each room will have two twin beds, linens, sheets, pillow, pillowcase and blankets. Extra rollaway beds will not be available and at least one person in the room must be at least 18 years old.
The facility features community-style bathrooms with private showers and toilet stalls as well as common areas and lounges throughout the building.
Lodgers will receive commemorative SIU eclipse glasses. Parking passes for University Hall are an additional $25 per vehicle.
But that's not all SIU has planned for the celestial celebration! The university has a whole list of events scheduled on campus including a public viewing at the football stadium. Other festivities will span four days and include:
- Into the Darkness: Celebrating the Eclipse with Music
- Chalk-Eclipse
- Crossroads Eclipse Research Workshop (Presentations)
- Salukicon Presents Eclipse Con (two days)
- Run From the Sun 5k
- Downtown Concert
- Crossroads Astronomy, Science and Technology Expo (two days)
- Crossroads Art and Craft Fair (two days)
- Eclipse Eve Live: Sky Observers Hangout
- Eclipse Day at Saluki Stadium
The Southern Illinois Crossroads Eclipse Festival also takes place from April 5-8, with a variety of eclipse oriented events. Tickets to attend Eclipse 2024 at Saluki Stadium can be purchased here.
SIU Carbondale has partnered with NASA EDGE and the Adler Planetarium to facilitate eclipse events. For more information or to see the full list of events you can click here.
For tickets to SIU's solar eclipse festivities you can click here.
The university is also looking for a variety of volunteers throughout the days leading up to the eclipse. You can visit this website to learn more and to sign up.
During a solar eclipse, the moon passes between the sun and the earth, casting the moon's shadow on the earth. Viewers will notice the sky becoming dark, the temperature dropping by 15 - 20F degrees and stars and planets will become visible.
And in the case there is rain, SIU has that covered as well! The university has lead project Dynamic Eclipse Broadcast Initative. It's a nationwide citizen science effort in which telescopes along the trajectory of the eclipse path will broadcast a feed live in Saluki Stadium. So rain or shine, viewers at SIU will be able to spot the eclipse!
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