Save the Date
The University of Southern Indiana has begun planning campus and community activities around the April 8, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse Across America.
"For the second time in seven years, our campus will be at the center of one of the most unique and awe-inspiring events we'll ever experience," said Dr. Kent Scheller, USI Professor of Physics. "We want to be sure we are prepared so our students, current and future, and our community can benefit from this rare occurrence for years to come."
Evansville is within the path of totality for the 2024 eclipse — for around 3 minutes beginning at 2:02 p.m., the moon will completely cover the sun and the region will experience total darkness.
During the last solar eclipse in 2017, when Evansville experienced 99.04% totality, more than 700 students from elementary and middle schools across the region viewed the event from campus and participated in lessons and activities led by the USI Geology and Physics Department. Additionally, students, faculty and community members viewed the eclipse from The Quad, through solar-filtered telescopes and glasses made available for safe viewing.
"We’re planning even more events for the 2024 total eclipse," said Scheller. "You’re going to want to save the date!"
More information about campus and community activities sponsored by USI around the eclipse will be available as they are finalized.
by: Matt Adams
Posted: Apr 8, 2022 / 10:00 AM EDT
Updated: Apr 8, 2022 / 07:29 PM EDT
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Mark you calendar and dust off those solar eclipse glasses!
We’re two years away from a solar eclipse that will be visible across much of the country, including Indiana.
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, blocking sunlight. The brief moment when the moon completely obscures the sun is called the totality.
NASA said the eclipse will block the sun on April 8, 2024. It won’t be visible across the entire United States like the “Great American Eclipse” of 2017. The path of the totality, when the moon completely blocks the sun, will largely cover the eastern half of the country.
The maximum duration of the totality is predicted to be 4 minutes and 27 seconds in Torreon, Mexico. According to GreatAmericanEclipse.com, the total eclipse will be visible in Indianapolis at 3:06 p.m. ET on April 8, 2024.
The totality will last 3 minutes and 46 seconds for Indianapolis. The length and visibility will vary depending on location. The totality will last 3 minutes and 2 seconds in Evansville [totality at 2:02 p.m. CT], for example, and 2 minutes and 57 seconds in Terre Haute [totality at 3:04 p.m. ET]. Bloomington, Muncie and Richmond are other Indiana cities in the path.
Some notable Midwestern cities in the path include Akron, Dayton, Cleveland and Toledo. Major Midwestern cities close to the path include Cincinnati, Detroit, Pittsburgh and St. Louis.
Several states will be able to see the eclipse:
- Arkansas
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Missouri
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- New Hampshire
- New York
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Vermont
According to Forbes, about 32 million Americans live in the path of the totality, making this even larger than the “Great American Eclipse” of 2017. About 12 million people lived in the path of the earlier solar event.
The April 2024 eclipse will pass through parts of Mexico before coming to the U.S. and continuing through eastern parts of Canada.
Yes, you can view the eclipse, but you shouldn’t look directly at it except for the narrow window of the totality. Special solar eclipse glasses should be worn the rest of the time.
You should also expect sales of Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” to surge once again in a couple years.
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Do you want to experience solar eclipse totality – and celebrate it at the place that’s a little more festive?
When the solar eclipse occurs in 2024, Festival Country Indiana, located just south of Indianapolis, will be smack dab in the middle of the path of totality. In Festival Country, you’ll get more than two and a half hours of the eclipse, including nearly four minutes of totality.
The eclipse is from 1:50 p.m. to 4:23 p.m. on Monday, April 8, 2024, with totality from approximately 3:06 p.m. to 3:10 p.m. [all times are Eastern time]
We’re planning an epic bash to celebrate the eclipse with activities all weekend and into Monday, and we’re giving you years of notice so you can plan to join us.