Embracing totality

IU educates, entertains thousands gathered to witness total solar eclipse

By Indiana University

April 10^th, 2024

As the skies darkened over Indiana University campuses in Bloomington and Indianapolis on April 8, the work of IU faculty, staff and students shined bright. Both campuses, in the path of totality, welcomed thousands of visitors to view and experience the total solar eclipse.

In Bloomington, Memorial Stadium hosted a Hoosier Cosmic Celebration that included an appearance by William Shatner and a performance by Janelle Monáe. Researchers collected eclipse-related data from the Kirkwood Observatory as local musicians played for hundreds gathered on the grass nearby in Dunn Meadow.

In Indianapolis, White River State Park was the site of a solar eclipse festival hosted in partnership with Visit Indy. Students in the IU School of Health and Human Sciences helped plan, coordinate and market the celestial celebration.

A total solar eclipse is framed in the bell tower of the Metz Bicentennial Carillon at IU Bloomington on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Chris Meyer/Indiana University)

Brice Adams, an electronic instrumentation engineer, and IU Distinguished Professor of Astronomy Caty Pilachowski prepare for eclipse observation and live stream on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Chris Meyer/Indiana University)

IU graduate student Jessica Ranshaw, right, shows Kirkwood Observatory visitor Lillian Broad visible sun spots from the solar telescope projection at IU Bloomington on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Chris Meyer/Indiana University)

Caty Pilachowski, Senior Systems Administrator Bob Lezotte and Senior Office Services Assistant Emily Nehus set up a sun telescope at the Kirkwood Observatory at IU Bloomington on Monday, April 8, 2024.(Photo by Chris Meyer/Indiana University)

The public gathers in the Cox Arboretum to watch the solar eclipse at IU Bloomington on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Chris Meyer/Indiana University)

People watch the beginning of the solar eclipse during the Hoosier Cosmic Celebration at Memorial Stadium on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Wendi Chitwood/Indiana University)

A child watches the beginning of the solar eclipse during the Hoosier Cosmic Celebration at Memorial Stadium on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Wendi Chitwood/Indiana University)

A solar eclipse begins as pictured at 1:56 p.m. EDT from IU Bloomington on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by James Brosher/Indiana University)

As the eclipse starts, viewers display the shadow of the moon crossing the path of the sun at IU Bloomington on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Chris Meyer/Indiana University)

Nathan Endres uses binoculars with solar filters to view the eclipse from the Cox Arboretum at IU Bloomington on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Chris Meyer/Indiana University)

Telescopes with solar filters are dialed in before the total eclipse at IU Bloomington on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Chris Meyer/Indiana University)

A photographer uses a long lens to check the position of the of the sun from the Cox Arboretum at IU Bloomington on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Chris Meyer/Indiana University)

The IU community and visitors gather in the Cox Arboretum for total eclipse observation at IU Bloomington on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Chris Meyer/Indiana University)

The public gathers in the Cox Arboretum for eclipse observation at IU Bloomington on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Chris Meyer/Indiana University)

A person enjoys the solar eclipse from Dunn Meadow at IU Bloomington on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by James Brosher/Indiana University)

People gather at White River State Park to watch the solar eclipse near IUPUI on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Tyler Carrell/Indiana University)

Indiana University Indianapolis Chancellor Latha Ramchand exits a slide outside University Tower at IUPUI during a solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Liz Kaye/Indiana University)

IUPUI cheerleaders and Jazzy pose for a photo during a solar eclipse in White River State Park near IUPUI on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Liz Kaye/Indiana University)

A person uses a telescope to view the sun during a solar eclipse in White River State Park near IUPUI on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Liz Kaye/Indiana University)

People gather to watch the solar eclipse in White River State Park near IUPUI on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Liz Kaye/Indiana University)

A group of people look up at the sun during a solar eclipse in White River State Park near IUPUI on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Liz Kaye/Indiana University)

A person looks up at the sun during a solar eclipse in Dunn Meadow at IU Bloomington on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by James Brosher/Indiana University)

People walk in the Campus River in Dunn Meadow during a solar eclipse at IU Bloomington on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Russell/Indiana University Office of Student Life)

Students watch the solar eclipse from the front yard of the Sigma Chi house near Dunn Meadow at IU Bloomington on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Russell/Indiana University Office of Student Life)

Mae Jemison, America’s first woman of color to travel to space, speaks during the Hoosier Cosmic Celebration at Memorial Stadium on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Wendi Chitwood/Indiana University)

IU Jacobs School of Music Professor Dominick DiOrio poses with actor William Shatner and members of the Jacobs School during a rehearsal before their performance at the Hoosier Cosmic Celebration on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Wendi Chitwood)

IU President Pamela S. Whitten introduces actor William Shatner during the Hoosier Cosmic Celebration at Memorial Stadium on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Wendi Chitwood/Indiana University)

People dance during the Hoosier Cosmic Celebration at Memorial Stadium on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Wendi Chitwood/Indiana University)

Janelle Monae performs during the Hoosier Cosmic Celebration at Memorial Stadium on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Wendi Chitwood/Indiana University)

People watch the solar eclipse during the Hoosier Cosmic Celebration at Memorial Stadium on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Wendi Chitwood/Indiana University)

People watch the solar eclipse from Dunn Meadow at IU Bloomington on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Russell/Indiana University Office of Student Life)

People look up at the sun during a solar eclipse in White River State Park near IUPUI on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Liz Kaye/Indiana University)

A moment of totality is captured at 3:05 p.m. during a solar eclipse at IU Bloomington on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by James Brosher/Indiana University)

The Indianapolis skyline is pictured at 3:10 p.m. EDT just after totality during a solar eclipse in White River State Park near IUPUI on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Liz Kaye/Indiana University)

People gather in the Cox Arboretum for the total solar eclipse at IU Bloomington on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Chris Meyer/Indiana University)

Canoes and kayakes are pictured on the White River at 3:06 p.m. EDT during totality of a solar eclipse in White River State Park near IUPUI on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Liz Kaye/Indiana University)

The solar eclipse is pictured during totality above the Indiana Memorial Union at IU Bloomington on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Russell/Indiana University Office of Student Life)

People view totality of a solar eclipse from the Cox Arboretum at IU Bloomington on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Chris Meyer/Indiana University)

The phases of a total solar eclipse are pictured in this composite of photographs captured between 1:43 p.m., at left, until totality at 3:05 p.m. EDT from IU Bloomington on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by James Brosher/Indiana University)

Footnotes

Photos by Chris Meyer, Liz Kaye, Wendi Chitwood, James Brosher, Tyler Carrell and Andrew Russell. Videos by Ethan Gill, Alex Kumar, Haley Semian and Tyler Carrell.

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FootNotes

Photos by Chris Meyer, Liz Kaye, Wendi Chitwood, James Brosher, Tyler Carrell and Andrew Russell. Videos by Ethan Gill, Alex Kumar, Haley Semian and Tyler Carrell.