Welcome to the Eclipse Crossroads.
On August 21, 2017, a total solar eclipse path stretched across the entire United States, reaching its point of greatest duration (GD) a few miles south of Carbondale. This region in southern Illinois is not only in the path of the 2017 eclipse, but also the 2024 eclipse, making it a unique location for being able to perform observations of both eclipses from the same location.
The second total solar eclipse is coming up on April 8, 2024. The two eclipse paths form an intersection just south of the SIU campus around Cedar Lake.
The paths of the two eclipses intersect just south of the SIU campus.
Festivities
There will be several events on campus the day of the eclipse in 2024.
Is there space set aside on campus for serious eclipse chasers/citizen scientists?
Yes. SIU Carbondale is participating in the Citizen CATE project and is setting aside space on and around the main campus for other citizen science groups and eclipse chasers. For more information, contact the Illinois Citizen CATE coordinator, Robert Baer, rbaer@physics.siu.edu.
The Total Solar Eclipse of 2017
This total eclipse is different from the partial eclipse the rest of the country will see. In the path of totality that goes directly over Carbondale, the sun was completely blotted out. It got dark enough for street lights to turn on, the temperature dropped and bright stars were visible in the sky. For 2 minutes, 38 seconds, it was like night in the middle of day.
This image depicts the path and duration of the solar eclipse. The eclipse will last approximately 2 minutes and 20 seconds near Carbondale. The eclipse reaches Illinois at 1:17pm CDT and leaves the state at 1:25pm.