Well that was fun!
Check back here to see photos from the 2024 Eclipse and learn more about the upcoming LUNAR eclipse. In the meantime, stop over to our SolarSteam site to how they study the sun and how it influences our environment.
Southern Illinois Crossroads Eclipse Festival
April 8, 2024 • 1:59 p.m. CDT
Carbondale, IL
In early April 2024, Southern Illinois University Carbondale held four days of festivities leading up to the second total solar eclipse in seven years—a truly extraordinary event. The celebration culminated in Eclipse Day at the Stadium on April 8. The weather was perfect as the crowd inside and outside the stadium witnessed more than 4 minutes of totality—an awe-inspiring, incredible and unforgettable moment. And an opportunity for researchers to study the sun and get a rare look at its corona.
The stadium was packed with 13,500 ticket-holders, along with more than 100 journalists, and an army of staff and volunteers. Famous guests included ABC News chief meteorologist Ginger Zee, Weather Channel host Mike Bettes and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. Along with totality, the audience enjoyed musical performances, learned more about astronomy, counted down the launch of weather balloons and experienced this special event as a community. An estimated 30,000 people, including those in the stadium, visited campus that day.
Eclipse Merchandise
You can still get your Eclipse shirts online through the SIU Bookstore.
