Carbondale Illinois US Solar Eclipse Center
Carbondale - The US Eclipse Center
The next two total solar eclipses to visit the United States will both pass over Carbondale, Illinois. In fact, Carbondale is the closest city to each of the eclipse centers. The duration of totality is greatest at the center of the eclipse. Sky viewers here will be treated to over 1 minute 40 seconds of totality in 2017 and over 4 minutes 8 seconds in 2024. Both eclipse centers are just south of the city, with the crossing point being located in a park. While the duration is greatest at the center line, totality here will be just a couple of seconds shorter since the city is within a couple of miles of the center.
Note the two red lines on the image above. They represent the center of the moon's shadow for the two total solar eclipses. The area of totality will be miles wider but the maximum eclipse occurs along the line.
Known as the Capital of Southern Illinois, Carbondale is also the US Total Eclipse Center due to the upcoming spectacles in 2017 and 2024. Start making plans to attend these awesome natural spectacles. The area offers much to see before, during and after the total solar eclipses. See why the Capital of Southern Illinois is also the US Total Eclipse Center and why it has been a well recognized US city for years.
See the 2017 and 2014 total solar eclipse paths in larger detail here.
Carbondale, Il
Total Solar Eclipse Stuff on Amazon
USA Total Solar Eclipse History
The last US total solar eclipse was in 1991. Carbondale is near the center line of the next US solar eclipse in 2017. It is also nearest to the center line for the US solar eclipse of 2024. Many people will travel to the area to view the natural spectacle. Start making your own plans to see the next US solar eclipse in Illinois. Then make plans to return for the 2024 solar eclipse at the same spot.
Total solar eclipses are rare, only visiting the same place once every 400 years, on average. The fact that Carbondale gets two in only 7 years is way above average. This is a spectacular pair of happenings for one place. Note that Chicago does not quite experience the total eclipse. It will be heavily eclipsed in the Windy City but not total. Many people will therefore travel to areas which do see the total solar eclipse. Doubtless, many of the eclipse viewers will set out at the last minute. Start planning your own trip early, if you intend to go to the Southern Illinois area for one or both of the eclipses.
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August 21, 2017 Total Solar Eclipse Countdown
The next US solar eclipse
The next US Total Solar Eclipse will pass through Carbondale, Illinois. The timing details of this solar eclipse are as follows:
Duration of Totality: 2m40.2s
Start of partial eclipse : 11:52:23.8
Start of total eclipse : 13:20:06.3
Maximum eclipse : 13:21:26.5
End of total eclipse : 13:22:46.5
End of partial eclipse : 14:47:32.9
NASA hosts a total solar eclipse map of this event here.
Carbondale is one of only a few cities that experience both the 2017 and 2024 total solar eclipses. The eclipse shadow path is quite narrow, about 70 miles. Carbondale is the closest city to the crossing point, located just south. Cape Girardeau, Missouri is also located in the path of both eclipses.
April 8, 2024 Carbondale Total Solar Eclipse Countdown
The next US solar eclipse after 2017
The 2024 solar eclipse will pass through Carbondale. The timing details for this total solar eclipse are as follows:
Total Solar Eclipse Totality Duration: 4m08.7s
Start of partial eclipse : 12:42:47.6
Start of total eclipse : 13:59:04.4
Maximum eclipse : 14:01:08.9
End of total eclipse : 14:03:13.1
End of partial eclipse : 15:18:00.7
NASA hosts a total solar eclipse map of this event here.
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Where will you observe the next total solar eclipse?
Mayor Joel Fritzler Resigns
In November, 2014, Carbondale Mayor Joel Fritzler announced that he is resigning as of early 2015. He will be taking a position at Northern Arizona University. His departure will usher in a new mayor who will likely be in office during the August 2017 total solar eclipse.
Mayor Joel Fritzler was aware of the impending eclipses to pass through his city. He likely started the preparations for the events on behalf of the city. With his departure, he will leave the actual events in the hands of others.
Because Arizona is outside of the total eclipse path, it is hoped that Mayor Joel Fritzler will return to Illinois for both of the events in order to enjoy the spectacles. If he is moving to Arizona to avoid the poor northern weather, in part, at least he will be comforted by the fact that the August 2014 event occurs in the summer.
Eclipse watchers wish Mayor Joel Fritzler well and hope to see him in Carbondale on both August 21, 2014 and April 8, 2024.
