Ball State is about to witness an experience of a lifetime. On April 8, 2024, Muncie residents that look outside from 1:52 p.m. to 4:24 p.m. will see a stage of the first total solar eclipse to happen in over 1,000 years. But what does this mean? 

A solar eclipse is an astronomical event in which the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, casting a dark shadow on the Earth visible for humans to see. Solar eclipses happen about two times a year, but total solar eclipses happen only every 18 months because the position of the moon must be specific to cover the entirety of the sun from the Earth. 

So why hasn’t a total solar eclipse happened in Muncie for so long? Mostly bad luck. But there is also a little science behind it.  

The shadow that the moon casts onto the Earth is relatively small; the width of this year’s path is only 115 miles. For reference, this is about the distance from Ball State to IU Bloomington. That may seem far after a long day of tailgating, but in the sense of the world, it is not far at all.  

On average, a total solar eclipse occurs in the same place every 330 years, but because of some bad luck, it has taken the eclipse 600 additional years to return to Muncie.  However, April 8 is a time for redemption and Information Technology wants everyone to enjoy the day as much as possible! 

To safely watch the eclipse in totality, you need proper eye protection. In fact, out of the two and one-half-hour event, you should only look at the sun without eye protection for about three minutes.  

From 3:07 p.m. to 3:11 p.m, the sky will be completely dark and the sun will be in a state of totality. The only light you may see is the sun’s outer atmosphere, called the corona, and possibly some stars and planets. This is a rare sight, and we suggest taking off your glasses to view it. 

However, the sun is very bright and can cause damage to your eyes if you do not wear your eclipse safety glasses elsewise. If there is any bright light coming from the sun, please wear proper protection. 

For a suggested donation of $1, you can get a pair of eclipse glasses from The Charles W. Brown Planetarium. For more information on the eclipse, watching the eclipse safely and getting your eclipse safety glasses visit the Charles W. Brown Planetarium “How to Safely Watch the Solar Eclipse” webpage. This webpage includes a video created by IT’s Digital Corps about watching the eclipse safely and detailed information about the eclipse provided by the experts within the planetarium.