Carbondale/Makanda is the centerline of the upcoming April 8, 2024 solar eclipse. This is the second solar eclipse for the region, following the one 7 years ago in Aug. of 2017. The total solar eclipse will occur at 1:59 p.m. CST on April 8, 2024 with a totality of more than 4 minutes. It will be like nighttime with bright stars visible in the sky and street lights lit. The black moon will be rimmed by the flares of the sun.
Totality matters! Get into the path of totality.
So what exactly is a solar eclipse? A solar eclipse is a lineup of the Sun, Moon, and Earth and only happens at New Moon. Any given spot on Earth will see a total eclipse of the Sun once every 360 years or so. And to have that occur in the same spot within 7 years is a very incredible event! The 2017 total solar eclipse was the first total solar eclipse in the Continental U.S. in 38 years. There will not be another total solar eclipse in the Continental United States again until 2044. And not another total solar eclipse in Illinois until 
September 14, 2099. Always remember the rule for using eye protection during an eclipse: If there’s ANY bright part of the Sun showing, then you have to use your eclipse glasses to watch the event.
Eclipse Day at SIU and Carbondale: Southern Illinois Crossroads Eclipse Festival
Enjoy a weekend of events leading up to the eclipse, see schedule here.
SIU will feature a variety of events on campus the day of the eclipse, with the main one being a public viewing at the football stadium. A ticket to a ‘guided viewing experience at the stadium is $25. Get Tickets here There will be indoor viewing, talks and presentations, an arts and crafts fair, and an area dedicated to eclipse citizen science. We provide a unique family friendly experience rich with activities centered on the arts and sciences. 2024 total solar eclipse and will experience 4minutes and 9 seconds of totality in the shadow of the Moon.
A total solar eclipse is seen above the Bald Knob Cross of Peace Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, in Alto Pass, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Bald Knob Cross Eclipse Day Viewing with a 360-degree, unobstructed viewing location in Alto Pass, IL. for this rare event. Get tickets here
Plan on arriving by 11 am. Partial Eclipse should begin around 11:30 am. $50. Tickets will include eclipse glasses and a T-shirt.
The wineries of the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail are located in the path of totality. Each winery has different options some with free entry to enjoy the experience. See options here
Southernmost Illinois welcomes all visitors to visit Shawnee Forest Country and the surrounding Southern Illinois area for the eclipse. Visit the unique shops in downtown Makanda and Carbondale. Enjoy nature and the many rock formations at nearby Giant City State Park and Shawnee National Forest. Have dinner at the ever popular Giant City Lodge. Enjoy the Southern Illinois Wineries Along the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail.
