Total Eclipse Indiana 2024

About the 2024 Total Eclipse

April 8, 2024, the long total eclipse drought will finally end for Indianapolis when the circle city experiences its first total solar eclipse in 819 years! The path of the eclipse will cut through the United States from Texas to Maine with Indianapolis area sitting near the center of the path of totality. The Moon will completely cover the Sun causing day to turn quickly to twilight for nearly four minutes. The path of totality will be about 115 miles wide and will stretch from Friendship to Frankfort with Franklin on the center line. Outside of this path of totality the Sun will remain shining though at a reduced amount and you cannot look directly at the Sun without protection. The best viewing for the total solar eclipse will be the Southeastern half of Indiana including Indianapolis. For the Indianapolis area, totality will last roughly 3 minutes 50 seconds. A telescope will not needed to view this event; just proper safety eye wear during partial phases such eclipse glasses (see below) or indirect viewing methods such as the pinhole method or mirror projection method. Though we are many years away from this event you can plan on Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium to provide educational programming as the date nears.

Viewing the Eclipse

It is safe to be outside during an eclipse. Sunlight during an eclipse is no different than normal. Just wear proper eye protection to look directly at the Sun. You should never look directly at the Sun without solar viewing glasses or filters sold by astronomical specialists which block more than 99.999% of visible light and 100% of Infrared and Ultraviolet light. The only time the Sun can be viewed directly is during totality when it is safe to remove your eclipse viewers.

Here are our recommendations for viewing any solar eclipse are:

• Eclipse glasses/viewers (easiest and highly recommended—buy them early this time!)
• Pinhole method
• Mirror Projection method