Eclipse 2017

Eclipse 2017
Carbondale is in the path of totality for not one, but two total solar eclipses. The first total solar eclipse over the U.S. since 1979 will reach its point of greatest duration just a few miles south of Carbondale on Aug. 21, 2017. The next solar eclipse will happen on April 8, 2024. The Department of Public Safety has been responsible for the strategic planning of the Eclipse on campus. DPS has partnered with multiple agencies to ensure all safety and security measures are in place prior to the event. The centerlines of totality for both these eclipses intersect over Carbondale’s Cedar Lake. Saluki Stadium is the focal point of the eclipse observation event, where the public is invited to a guided eclipse experience emceed by Mat Kaplan of Planetary Radio. Guests will see the eclipse happening live overhead while watching and participating in a variety of edutainment activities developed in conjunction with our partners, including NASA Eclipse 2017, the Adler Planetarium of Chicago, the Louisiana Space Consortium, The Science Center of Southern Illinois and other related groups. The combination of the eclipse and the start of the new school year for SIU likely will mean traditional hotels/motels will be booked, so early reservations may be a good idea. There is a very large amount of camping available in the area in the hundreds of thousands of acres that make up the Shawnee National Forest and surrounding public grounds.

What is a Total Solar Eclipse?
It is an astronomical phenomenon in which the moon passes in between the Sun and Earth unveiling a solar corona as the Moon’s shadow crosses the Earth.

What should I look for in a Total Solar Eclipse?
An out of body experience that will be a peak moment in your life. You will look for elements such as the solar corona, baily’s beads, shadow bands, prominences, diamond ring, the chromosphere, not to mention the breath taking twilight around the horizon. With clear skies, you should be able to see several planets as well.

What does this mean for the start of Fall semester?
Classes that day will be canceled but the university will be open. Students with on-campus jobs are being advised to report to work as scheduled unless other arrangements have been made with supervisors. Students are urged to move in early, whether they live on- or off-campus. University Housing will be encouraging students to be moved in by Thursday, August 17 to avoid traffic issues and potential challenges for families needing hotel rooms.

More info @ eclipse.siu.edu