A series of public talks which began Friday is shedding light on the upcoming total eclipse this April, as well as other celestial studies. “Journey to the Eclipse” talk was held at Guyon Auditorium in Morris Library. The series is free and open to the campus and public.

Friday’s event focused on “2:38: A Glimpse into the Eclipse,” a student-made video that showcases the lead-up to the 2017 total solar eclipse at SIU and the amazing events that happened during the 2 minutes and 38 seconds of totality, said Cori Brevik, assistant professor of practice in the School of Physics and Applied Physics and one of the series organizers.

They called it a  “great chance for students and faculty and staff who were not in the area in 2017 to get a feel for what they can expect with the total solar eclipse in April.”

A discussion led by faculty members about what to expect during the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse followed the video presentation.

The “Journey to the Eclipse” series is aimed at bringing together experts in astronomy, solar eclipses and other sun-related talks for students, faculty, and staff of SIU, as well as members of the Southern Illinois community.

“The series is designed for a general audience,” Brevik said. “These talks are family-friendly and will be presented by speakers from a variety of disciplines.”

Future presentations are set for 3 p.m. on the first Friday of each month at the Guyon Auditorium. A bonus event is set for Oct. 13 and will focus on a partial solar eclipse set for that month.

For more information on the 2024 total solar eclipse, visit eclipse.siu.edu.

Gallery • 3 Photos

Enan Chediak

Malea Bailey introduces her documentary at the SIU Journey to the Eclipse Talk September 1, 2023 at the Morris Library in Carbondale, Illinois. Bailey, a 2019 SIU graduate, created the film for the talk, documenting the events on campus leading up to the eclipse.

Photos by Enan Chediak

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