Total Lunar Eclipse at SIU Carbondale March 13 – 14, 2025
FREE Public Astronomy Observation on the Neckers building south west lawn.
11:59pm CT, Thursday, March 13, 2025 –
2:30am, Friday, March 14, 2025
A total lunar eclipse will be visible over most of the Americas on March 13 and 14, 2025. Often referred to as a Blood Moon, the Moon will appear to go through different phases this evening and turn a deep orange / red color for about 1 hour during totality from roughly 1:30 am – 2:30am CT. It is at this time that the earth blocks direct light from the Sun and we see light refracted by the Earth’s atmosphere projected on the Moon. It is for this reason that the Moon appears the color of a sunset, the exact color depending on the amount of particles or dust in the atmosphere at the time of the eclipse.
The public is invited to join members of the SIU School of Physics, the STEM Education Research Center, the Astronomical Association of Southern Illinois and the Adler Planetarium this evening on the southwest side of the Neckers building for free, guided telescope viewings and special activities during peak eclipse hours from midnight to 2:30am.
Outdoor enthusiasts are invited to be part of a special program, “Half of the magic and majesty of living on Earth happens at night;” a nature walk under the eclipsed moon led by Experiential Education Specialist and Researcher Steve Gariepy.
This event is outside and weather dependent; DRESS APPROPRIATELY. Neckers 240 will be open with live stream views of the eclipse from other locations. Lawn chairs, blankets, telescopes, photographic equipment and coolers are allowed, please No Alcohol. Parking available in Lot #47 between the Public Policy Institute and Neckers building. The south end of the parking lot will be blocked to keep headlights from shining into the observation area. Some lighting will be on in this area, but we encourage visitors to keep white lights to a minimum in the telescope area. Visitors who plan to bring their own telescope or photographic equipment are welcome to arrive early and keep their equipment set up for the entire eclipse.
No tickets are required for this event. For more information or for special accommodations, call SIU Events and Outreach at (618) 536-7751or email events@siu.edu.
Half of the magic and majesty of living on Earth happens at night
A nature walk under the eclipsed moon led by Experiential Education Specialist and Researcher Steve Gariepy will start just after midnight from the telescope area. An outdoor, environmental, experiential educator and program coordinator for nearly twenty years, Steve loves working in the recent Eclipse hotbed of North America, and is looking forward to facilitating this special Total Lunar Eclipse version of his recent Full Moon Walks for the public. Bring a flashlight or headlamp, appropriate outdoor/active clothing, snack, water, and binoculars, if you have any, and meet up with Steve in the telescope area at midnight. The walk is expected to last approximately 1.5 hours and return to the telescope area at Neckers a little after 1:30am.
Guided Telescope Observations
Several telescopes will be setup this evening including live streaming telescopes that are part of the Adler Planetarium’s special episode of Sky Observers Hangout live from SIU. The event will utilize live telescope feeds operated by SIU students who are part of NASA funded, heliophysics research project, the Dynamic Eclipse Broadcast Initiative. Images from other DEB teams throughout North America will be shared via debra.phyics.siu.edu throughout the evening. Neckers lecture hall 240 will be open for visitors to watch the live stream throughout the evening. In addition to the Moon, Mars and several deep sky objects will be visible this evening. The best viewing of the moon will be with binoculars or small telescopes while dimmer objects are better viewed through larger telescopes. Images are listed below with their apparent magnitude or brightness. An explanation of the apparent magnitude scale is available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apparent_magnitude
|
Object |
Magnitude |
Identifier |
|
Moon |
-12.11 |
|
|
Mars |
-1.52 |
|
|
Great Hercules Cluster |
5.80 |
M13 |
|
Beehive Cluster |
3.10 |
M44 |
|
Broken Heart Cluster |
5.40 |
NGC 2281 |
|
Christmas Tree Cluster |
3.90 |
NGC 2264 |
|
Rosetta Nebula |
4.80 |
NGC 2244 |
|
Open Star Cluster |
4.40 |
M47 |
.
Adler Planetarium: Sky Observers Hangout Live from SIU Carbondale
Can’t make it to the event in person? The Adler Planetarium of Chicago will live stream an episode of Sky Observers Hangout live from SIU during this event. The event will utilize live telescope feeds operated by SIU students who are part of NASA funded, heliophysics research project, the Dynamic Eclipse Broadcast Initiative with imagery available on DEB’s image server. Neckers lecture hall 240 will be open for visitors to watch the live stream throughout the evening.
Schedule
11:59pm, March 13
- Telescope observations begin
- Gather for nature walk at telescope area.
- Adler Planetarium Sky Observer’s Hangout goes live
- Neckers 240 open to visitors
12:09am, March 14: U1, Partial phase of eclipse begins.
1:26am: U2, Beginning of totality
1:30am Nature walk returns to telescope area
1:45am Cosmic Surfing , Description: Beginning at 1:45 am, Steve will also facilitate his version of R. Buckminster Fuller’s activity Cosmic Surfing, training you to be a Cosmic Surfer, and Cosmic Surfing instructor for your friends and family.
1:59am: Greatest Eclipse (middle of totality)
2:30am: Public programming ends
2:32am: U3, End of totality
3:48am: U4, Partial phase of eclipse ends.
Join us on Facebook
For more information and discussion about the event, please visit the SIU Physics Total Lunar Eclipse event site.
What groups are involved in the observation?
Public astronomy observations are hosted by SIU Carbondale as a joint event that involves several campus units organized through the SIU School of Physics, the SIU STEM Education Research Center and the as well as the Astronomical Association of Southern Illinois (AASI) and the Adler Planetarium of Chicago.
What if I can't attend in person, is there an online way to participate?
The Adler Planetarium of Chicago will live stream an episode of Sky Observers Hangout live from SIU during this event.
Parking
Free parking is available in SIU lot #47 located in between the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute and the Neckers building.
Are white lights allowed at the observation site?
Street lighting and campus walkway lights will be on during this event. Visitors and staff are encouraged to keep white light to a minimum in the telescope area and use red lights when possible.
What can I bring to the observation?
Visitors are allowed to bring food and non alcoholic drinks as well as chairs, blankets and observation or photographic equipment.
Are pets allowed?
No pets other than service animals are allowed at the observation.
Can I bring a large group to the event?
Large groups should contact SIU Events in advance at (618)-536-7751 or email events@siu.edu
Is there a rain date for the event?
All in person activities at are weather permitting and there is no rain date.
What types of telescopes are at the event?
All telescopes at the event are portable amateur astronomer telescopes or binoculars. Expect a range of telescopes including 40mm to 140mm refactors that offer incredibly sharp images and a variety of reflectors including Newtonians, large Dobs, and compact Schmidt-Cassegrain scopes. A few telescopes will have cell phone adapters allowing visitors to get their own cell phone image of the Moon.
Are there other public astronomy observations in the area?
SIU Public Astronomy Observations are hosted by SIU Physics and the Astronomical Association of Southern Illinois (AASI) at the Neckers Astronomy Observation Deck on the SIUC campus during the fall and spring semesters. Additionally, SIU, the Adler Planetarium of Chicago and AASI host other special observations throughout the year. Special observatsions are advertised on the hosting venue websites and social media.
Are there activities for handicap or special needs visitors?
Most of the activities at the observation are accessible to all visitors with a few exceptions. The level of the eyepieces on some scopes may be out of reach of some visitors and require stools or step ladders to reach, however camera assisted viewing is available on some telescopes that allow visualization on computer screens. Visitors with mobility issues or in need of special accommodations should contact SIU Events and Outreach at 618-536-7751 or email events@siu.edu.
Are there activities for children?
Children accompanied by adults are encouraged to check out the different views from the telescopes and most telescope have step stools allowing children to reach eyepieces.
Can I setup my own telescope?
Visitors are welcome to bring their own telescope or photographic equipment and setup in an open area. Visitors with their own equipment may setup in advance or stay late to see the entire eclipse.
All activities are weather permitting.
No outside alcohol is permitted at this venue. Southern Illinois University is a smoke free campus.
Note that you will likely be in close proximity to people throughout the evening. If you are feeling sick or have recently been exposed to Covid, please stay home.
Portions of this event will be photographed, videoed and live streamed.
For questions or more information, contact University Events and Outreach at: (618)-536-7751 or email events@siu.edu.