2024 Solar Eclipse

Sharing the magic of rural communities during the 2024 solar eclipse

Communities across southern Indiana aligned directly with the path of totality during the 2024 solar eclipse. This provided a unique opportunity for Hoosiers and tourists alike to explore the cultural dimensions and creative inspiration of a solar event that will remain in our memories for a lifetime.

With funding support from the Simons Foundation as part of its In the Path of Totality initiative, the Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement lead IU’s rural solar eclipse initiative, providing staff support, resources, and outreach for community activities that united residents around the historic astronomical event.

Microgrant Awardees

See the awardees of the 2024 Eclipse Microgrant.

Eclipse Scholars

Meet the students working with community organizations.

The Path of Totality

Indiana counties in the path of totality experienced a period when the sun was 100% covered. Other counties in Indiana experienced 90% coverage.

Counties in the path of totality include:
Adams, Allen, Bartholomew, Blackford, Boone, Brown, Clay, Clinton, Crawford, Daviess, Dearborn, Decatur, Delaware, Dubois, Fayette, Franklin, Gibson, Grant, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Henry, Howard, Huntington, Jackson, Jay, Jefferson, Jennings, Johnson, Knox, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Martin, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Orange, Owen, Parke, Perry, Posey, Putnam, Randolph, Ripley, Rush, Scott, Shelby, Spencer, Sullivan, Tipton, Union, Vanderburgh, Vermillion, Vigo, Warrick, Washington, Wayne, and Wells.

View larger map

About the Total Solar Eclipse Planning Toolkit

The precise alignment required for a total solar eclipse to cross over a specific region, such as Indiana, is a rare and awe-inspiring celestial coincidence. Despite total solar eclipses occurring approximately every eighteen months worldwide, they only occur about every 400 years in the same place.

Indiana’s rural communities were also presented with an exciting opportunity to engage with locals and tourists. Planning early allowed community leaders to make the most of the total solar eclipse.

The 2024 Total Solar Eclipse Planning Toolkit was organized to provide background on the total solar eclipse and resources to help prepare communities for the anticipated excitement surrounding the event—both logistically and creatively.

Browse resources from the guide

Information by state
The Great American Eclipse website provides a depth of information on solar eclipses in general, with pages covering basics of the eclipse, logistics and safety considerations, and state-specific statistics based on previous eclipses.
https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com

Resources and eclipse information
The American Astronomical Society provides a variety of resources relating to the eclipse, covering topics ranging from eye safety to photography. Additional resources for apps, maps, books, articles, and more are located on their website.
https://eclipse.aas.org

Timing the Solar Eclipse
Visit the interactive Time and Date website to find when and where the eclipse crosses your area.
https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/map/2024-april-8

Assessing the weather
Locate historical and projected weather data, to get a sense of what to expect on April 8, 2024.
https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate
https://www.timeanddate.com/weather

Get eclipse glasses and handheld solar viewers
Visit the American Astronomical Society website to find a list of safe manufacturers and importers of eclipse glasses and handheld solar viewers, as well as their resellers and distributors.
https://eclipse.aas.org/resources/solar-filters

Eclipse activities
Science-Technology Activities and Resources for Libraries (STAR net) has numerous activities on their website, including methods for how to indirectly view the total solar eclipse.
https://www.starnetlibraries.org/about/our-projects/solar-eclipse-activities-libraries-seal

Lessons learned from the 2017 eclipse
Materials from the Solar Eclipse Planning workshop hosted by the American Astronomical Society are available on their website. Experts speak on topics ranging from community experience to traffic and safety.
https://eclipse.aas.org/workshops/jun2023

General guidance for safe eclipse planning
The Homeland Security Digital Library is a great resource for fact sheets, checklists, locally developed guidance documents, and news articles on eye safety, injury treatment, and planned mass gatherings in rural and urban areas. The Solar Eclipses: Planning Resources [September 2022] document compiles many of these sources.
https://www.hsdl.org/c/view?docid=880095

Eclipse planning in Indiana
The May 2023 issue of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security magazine, The Hoosier Responder, includes a section on eclipse planning in Indiana.
https://www.in.gov/dhs/files/Hoosier-Responder-2023-05.pdf

Finding eclipse experts
Discover amateur astronomers who may be interested in supporting your community’s eclipse planning.
https://lovethenightsky.com/astronomy-clubs-in-indiana
https://www.go-astronomy.com/astro-clubs-state.php?State=IN

Eclipse planning and communication
Dr. Kate Russo’s Community Solar Eclipse Planning guide provides further information on assembling a task force, developing a strategy, and planning for your community through the knowns and unknowns.
https://www.beingintheshadow.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/WHITE-PAPER-SECOND-EDITION.pdf

Facilities and preparedness
Mark Howell, Director of Grounded Truths LLC, created a quick guide for best practices in estimating facilities needed at eclipse events. Consider how to implement the 3 “T”s and 2 “C”s for your eclipse events.
https://eclipse.aas.org/sites/eclipse.aas.org/files/Howell_Jun2023_Poster.pdf

For libraries
In collaboration with the STAR Library Network, astronomers Andrew Fraknoi and Dennis Schatz created “A Guide For Public Libraries and their Communities.” This double-header contains eclipse information, safe viewing activities, ideas for eclipse events, and links to finding science-literate partners.
https://eclipse.aas.org/sites/eclipse.aas.org/files/SEAL-Booklet-for-Libraries.pdf

For educators and administrators
In collaboration with the National Science Teaching Association, astronomers Andrew Fraknoi and Dennis Schatz also produced two solar eclipse guides.
Educators
https://static.nsta.org/pdfs/SolarEclipses2023_Educator.pdf
Administrators
https://static.nsta.org/pdfs/SolarEclipses2023_Administrator.pdf