How to Watch the 2024 Solar Eclipse
On Monday, April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will sweep across southern Indiana from southwest to northeast. This marks the first occurrence since the Great American Eclipse in 2017 and the last until August 2044. Seize this unique opportunity to witness history! We'll guide you through the safety measures and essentials for an unforgettable viewing experience.
Safety First
How to Safely View the Solar Eclipse
Watching the 2024 total solar eclipse will be a once-in-a-lifetime event that you don't want to miss! To make sure you get the most out of your experience, it’s important to follow some basic safety guidelines.
- Eye Protection: Protect your eyes by wearing protective glasses designed specifically for viewing an eclipse – regular sunglasses won't do the trick! Stand still and cover your eyes with your eclipse glasses or solar viewer before looking up at the bright Sun. Commemorative Total Eclipse IN Indiana glasses will be available for purchase in January.
- Protect Eyes During Entire Viewing: After looking at the Sun, turn away and remove your filter — do not remove it while looking at the Sun.
- No Direct Viewing: Direct viewing of any part of the Sun without protection can cause serious and permanent eye damage. If you don't have eclipse glasses, use a pinhole camera or indirectly project an image of the Sun onto another surface – both methods are easy and effective ways to safely watch the eclipse without risking your vision. Check out this list of suppliers of safe solar filters and viewers.
- Layering Glasses: If you normally wear eyeglasses, keep them on and put your eclipse glasses on over them, or hold your handheld viewer in front of them.
- Don’t Look Through Unfiltered Devices: Do not look at the uneclipsed, partially eclipsed, or annularly eclipsed Sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or other optical device.
- Don’t Hack Yourself a "Filtered" Viewer Using Optical Devices: Similarly, do not look at the Sun through a camera, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while using your eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewer — the concentrated solar rays could damage the filter and enter your eye(s), causing serious injury.
- Use Solar Filters: Plan on taking pictures or using an optical device? Be sure to equip your equipment with a special solar filter, as well as use proper technique to prevent potential damage to your equipment.
- Viewing During Totality: If you are inside the path of totality on April 8, 2024, remove your solar filter only when the Moon completely covers the Sun’s bright face and it suddenly gets quite dark. Experience totality, then, as soon as the bright Sun begins to reappear, replace your solar viewer to look at the remaining partial phases. Note that this applies only to viewing without optical aid (other than ordinary eyeglasses).
- Viewing Outside Totality: Outside the path of totality, and throughout a partial or annular solar eclipse, you must always use a safe solar filter to view the Sun directly.
- Plan Your Best Viewing Experience: Travel to a location that offers an unobstructed view of the sun during its total coverage or totality – this will give you the best opportunity to take in the full experience. Check out our list of the best spots to catch this historical event!
Interested in learning more about solar eclipses?
Take a peek at our FAQ’s!
The only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed, partially eclipsed, or annularly eclipsed Sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as eclipse glasses. We’ve created an exclusive pair, available on ShopINStateParks.com – we’ll also have a limited supply available for sale on properties prior to and on the day of the eclipse. But don’t wait till then if you want the coolest shades around – grab yours now!
As hundreds of thousands of people flock to Indiana for the awe-inspiring and rare chance to witness a total solar eclipse, it’s important to be prepared for all kinds of situations on your trip. Roadways will be crowded with eager visitors making their way towards prime viewing spots, but if unexpected delays or emergencies arise, you may find yourself far from any assistance.
Road Trip Ready
An Eclipse-Ready Checklist
To ensure you’re road trip ready, we’ve put together a list of essential supplies for your unforgettable journey!
- A Full Tank of Gas: Whether you’re heading to the path of totality for a once-in-a lifetime experience or staying close by, it's important that you keep your car full! With expected visitors flocking in from all over to witness this special phenomenon, gas supplies could quickly be depleted. We recommend filling up as often and early as possible – sticking with at least half tank is usually safest; however holding onto extra gasoline should best be avoided, given its highly combustible nature.
- Water: According to the federal government, you need a gallon of water per person per day. In this case, you'd need three days' worth. Realistically, that’d be a lot to carry – so be sure to bring at least a couple gallons and try to top off when you can.
- Food: You'll appreciate having some snacks if you're stuck on the side of the road or in traffic. Make sure to choose something shelf-stable, such as energy bars or camping food, that can stay fresh for a long time.
- Layering Glasses: If you normally wear eyeglasses, keep them on and put your eclipse glasses on over them, or hold your handheld viewer in front of them.
- Extra Auto Fluids: Before you embark on your eclipse road trip, make sure your car is in great shape. As backup, ensure you have an extra gallon of coolant and windshield washer fluid, plus at least a quart of oil. To give yourself peace-of-mind during your travels, have the pros check out everything under the hood and top off all necessary fluids to ensure your car is safe!
- Mobile Phone and Car Charger: Without stating the obvious, you’ll need a way to call for help if you get stuck or need to check the latest updates on what’s happening at your destination. Spotty cell coverage and GPS navigation apps can sap a phone’s battery quickly – be sure you’ve got a charger to ensure you’ll always be in-the-know!
- Physical/Paper Map: Don't let a potential cell network overload ruin your eclipse experience! Be sure to prepare for any possible phone coverage outages by bringing an atlas or large state road map along with you. This will provide helpful guidance around alternative routes and put your mind at ease during the event.
- Physical Money: It’s always important to carry physical cash on hand, as you might need to fuel up or buy supplies somewhere that doesn’t accept credit cards, or can’t because of an outage.
- Extra Medication: It's always a good idea to plan ahead for your medication needs when you travel. Be sure to bring enough of each prescription, plus an extra supply just in case. Bring along a copy of the prescriptions as well; although it doesn't guarantee fulfilment abroad, it never hurts to be ready with some backup paperwork.
- First-Aid Kit: A good first-aid kit can help in the event of an accident or other setback. The American Red Cross offers a checklist for creating your own kit, full of items you might not think of to include.
- Basic Toolkit: Whether it's a day trip or an extended stay, make sure you're always equipped with the right essentials! A handy toolkit is definitely something to have on-hand. It should be comprised of items like an adjustable wrench, screwdrivers, pocket knife and tire pressure gauge – all staples that will help out in numerous unforeseen situations while traveling.
- Traditional or Portable Jumper Cables: Whether you have traditional or portable jumper cables, you’ll hopefully be able to save both time and money in comparison to calling a tow truck should your car fail during your exursion. Be sure to brush up on those jumping skills so that if needed, you'll know exactly what needs to be done should any emergency arise!
- Headlamp or Flashlight + Extra Batteries : This will be helpful should you need to change a tire or poke around under the hood of your car when it’s pitch black!
- Spare Tire or Flat Kit: Protect yourself before you hit the road! If your car has a spare or temporary tire, make sure it's properly inflated. Not all cars come with spares these days, so if that happens to be the case for yours – don't panic. Investing in a tire-sealant kit can save you from unexpected roadside delays and get you safely on your way to finding new tires as soon as possible.
- Emergency Flares or Reflectors: If your car breaks down on the side of the road, flares can be a lifesaver! They make other drivers aware that you're there and need extra space to deal with any maintenance issues. So don't forget to pack them in case of an emergency; it could save you from getting into potentially dangerous situations.
