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.
On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, United States, and Canada. On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. The sky will darken
as if it were dawn or dusk. Safety is the number one priority when viewing a total solar eclipse. Be sure you're familiar with when you need to wear specialized eye protection designed for solar viewing by reviewing these safety guidelines. After the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, the next total solar eclipse that can be seen from the
contiguous United States will be on Aug. 23, 2044. Quick Facts
We can’t normally see the corona – the Sun’s outer atmosphere – because the Sun’s surface below it is so much brighter. But during a total solar eclipse, the corona becomes visible, offering unique opportunities to study it.
When the Moon completely blocks the visible surface of the Sun during a total solar eclipse, viewers can remove their eclipse glasses. A total solar eclipse is the only type of solar eclipse where eclipse glasses can be momentarily removed.
When a solar eclipse reaches totality, nocturnal wildlife sometimes wakes up, thinking that it’s nighttime, and non-nocturnal wildlife might think it’s time to head to sleep!
While millions of people across the United States experienced a total eclipse Aug. 21, 2017, as the umbra, or moon’s shadow passed over them, only six people witnessed the umbra from space. The space station crossed the path of the eclipse three times as it orbited above the continental United States at an altitude of 250 miles.
Visit our multimedia gallery to explore exciting images and videos of eclipses.
Learn more about eclipses with hands-on and virtual activities for the whole family.
Eclipses News
Much of Indiana is in the middle of the "path of totality" for a total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.
BLOOMINGTON, Indiana — Two years from now, a massive chunk of Indiana will experience a total solar eclipse.
Already, cities within the path of totality are planning for the flood of visitors expected to pour in as people come to witness this once in a lifetime event.
"We are really going to make this a fun event," said Erin White, director of leisure marketing at Visit Bloomington.
The countdown is on to the next total solar eclipse and the folks at Visit Bloomington are already planning.
"We've been actively preparing for the 2024 eclipse since last summer," White said.
Visit Bloomington is a part of an Indiana University planning committee, working with university researchers, astronomers, together with city and county leaders to make sure they find the best viewing spot for the thousands of visitors they expect to see and create fun activities for them to do when they're in town.
Already, there's a demand.
"Since we've already had visitors contacting us, asking us about hotel rooms and activities and events surrounding the total eclipse event that's going to be happening in Bloomington," White said. "We knew it was a big deal and there were going to be a lot of visitors anxious for information early, so we wanted to get as much of a head start as possible."
"We started a couple of years ago," said Caty Pilachowski, chair of the Department of Astronomy at Indiana University-Bloomington. "Astronomers at institutions along the path of totality have been really helpful on what they did in 2017, what they wished they'd done."
"Apparently towns along the eclipse path triple in population, so we want to be able to welcome people, let them have a good time," Pilachowski said.
With the previous total solar eclipse from 2017 just a few years back, many institutions have been willing to help. She said they're working on their plans for the solar eclipse years ahead of time so they're ready for the crowds, the big day and making sure everything runs smoothly so people can relax and enjoy the eclipse when it begins.
“A total solar eclipse is almost a life-changing experience," Pilachowski said.
"This is the first total solar eclipse coming over Indianapolis in 819 years. So that's why this is a special event," said Brian Murphy, director of the Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium at Butler University.
In Bloomington, they'll get a little over four minutes of totality. In Indianapolis, for three minutes and 49 seconds the sun will be fully blocked by the moon.
"Pictures do not do it justice at all. Seeing it live, seeing it happen, seeing the sun disappear, seeing the corona of the sun suddenly appear with this black dark spot in the middle is absolutely amazing," Murphy said.
And most Hoosiers won't have to travel to get into the path of totality. But if you're outside that path, Murphy said plan to get there.
“You know, I really don’t want to hear people, say, who are just north of Kokomo who are just outside that line of totality to say, ‘Well it’s going to be 99 percent eclipse here, what’s one percent?’ Like I said, it's zero percent of totality, which is the most spectacular astronomical event anyone can see. I can literally say that as an astronomer," Murphy said. "It’s the most striking astronomical event you’ll ever see in your life."
So even two years out to the big day, Murphy said start planning where you want to watch the eclipse now and be ready to move in case of clouds. It's something you won't want to miss.
"See it," Murphy said. "If you have any chance to get to that path of totality, see the total eclipse."