Total Lunar Eclipse at SIU Carbondale March 13 – 14, 2025

FREE Public Astronomy Observation on the Neckers building south west lawn.
11:59pm CT, Thursday, March 13, 2025  –
2:30am, Friday, March 14, 2025

Event Website:  https://eclipse.siu.edu/tle-siuc-14mar2025/

The public is invited to join members of the SIU School of Physics, the STEM Education Research Center, the Astronomical Association of Southern Illinois and the Adler Planetarium this evening on the southwest side of the Neckers building at SIU Carbondale for free, guided telescope viewings and special activities during peak eclipse hours from midnight to 2:30am.

This event is outside and weather dependent; DRESS APPROPRIATELY. Neckers 240 will be open with live stream views of the eclipse from other locations.   Lawn chairs, blankets, telescopes, photographic equipment and coolers are allowed, please No Alcohol.   Parking available in Lot #47 between the Public Policy Institute and Neckers building.  The south end of the parking lot will be blocked to keep headlights from shining into the observation area.  Some lighting will be on in this area, but we encourage visitors to keep white lights to a minimum in the telescope area.  Visitors who plan to bring their own telescope or photographic equipment are welcome to arrive early and keep their equipment set up for the entire eclipse.

Schedule

11:59pm, March 13  

•  Telescope observations begin
• Gather for nature walk at telescope area. 
• Adler Planetarium Sky Observer’s Hangout goes live 
• Neckers 240 open to visitors 

12:09am, March 14: U1, Partial phase of eclipse begins.  

1:26am: U2, Beginning of totality 

1:30am: Nature walk returns to telescope area 

1:45am: Cosmic Surfing , Description:  Beginning at 1:45 am, Steve will also facilitate his version of R. Buckminster Fuller’s activity Cosmic Surfing, training you to be a Cosmic Surfer, and Cosmic Surfing instructor for your friends and family. 

1:59am: Greatest Eclipse (middle of totality) 

2:30am: Public programming ends 

2:32am: U3, End of totality 

3:48am: U4, Partial phase of eclipse ends.  

Adler Planetarium: Sky Observers Hangout Live from SIU Carbondale

Can’t make it to the event in person?  The Adler Planetarium of Chicago will live stream an episode of Sky Observers Hangout live from SIU during this event.  The event will utilize live telescope feeds operated by SIU students who are part of NASA funded, heliophysics research project, the Dynamic Eclipse Broadcast Initiative with imagery available on DEB’s image server. Neckers lecture hall 240 will be open for visitors to watch the live stream throughout the evening.

No tickets are required for this event.  For more information or for special accommodations, call SIU Events and Outreach at (618) 536-7751or email events@siu.edu.