Carbondale to be 'Eclipse Crossroads of America' in 2017
CARBONDALE, IL (KFVS) - It's not too early to begin making plans to be at the Eclipse Crossroads of America, according to Southern Illinois University.
August 21, 2017 is when the first total solar eclipse since 1979 over the mainland United States will sweep across the country from northwest to southeast. The last time that happened was in 1918, according to a news release from Southern Illinois University.
On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will again sweep across the country, this time from southwest to northeast.
The intersection of the two eclipse paths is just south of Carbondale over Cedar Lake. No other place in the world will offer the opportunity to observe these two eclipses from the same ground-based spot.
Carbondale is the closest city and Southern Illinois University Carbondale is the closest campus to the point of the eclipse's greatest duration.
The eclipse will begin at 11:53 a.m. and all phases will be complete by 2:47 p.m.
Total eclipse duration time, which scientists refer to as "totality," will be 2 minutes, 38 seconds, 2 seconds short of the greatest duration time a few miles south of Carbondale.
More information is available on the Eclipse Southern Illinois website (eclipse.siu.edu).
