Clinton County’s last Total Solar Eclipse was June 16, 1806. If you miss the April 8, 2024 eclipse in Clinton County, you’ll need to wait until February 25, 2343. A planning/information meeting was held in the Old Stoney Board Room Tuesday June 20 to familiarize the county on what to expect and start the process of maximizing the event as a learning and commercial opportunity for residents, educators and businesses in the area.
In totality, stars will come out in the middle of the afternoon. Birds and wildlife in nature will change normal behavior. Streetlights will come on automatically in the middle of the afternoon. Cresent sun shapes appear on the ground through tree shadows after “first contact” when the moon starts to eclipse the sun. Light levels decrease to the point of darkness in areas of totality, sky color will change throughout the process, a solar corona will appear around the sun during totality, temperature will decrease slightly, and lifelong memories will be made with friends and family for about 2 to 4 minutes of totality, depending on where you choose to observe the total solar eclipse of April 8, 2024.
Several towns and three schools in Clinton County will experience totality on Monday April 8, 2024. “First Contact” in Kirklin when the moon starts to eclipse the sun will be around 1:50 PM with totality in Kirklin beginning at about 3:06:55 PM. Maximum darkness in Kirklin will be at 3:08:00 PM and totality ends at 3:09:06. Kirklin area will be one of the best places in Clinton County but not the best in the state. Kirklin will enjoy 2 minutes 11 seconds of totality while some locations will see over 4 minutes of totality. The “centerline” for totality has the longest darkness and will pass through Vincennes, then proceed north of Bloomington, Indiana and continue through Franklin, New Castle and Union City on the Indiana/Ohio line.
Tammy Sander, communications coordinator for Clinton County, invited solar eclipse expert Dan McGlaun to share his extensive knowledge of solar eclipses. McGlaun has witnessed 15 eclipses all over the world since the early 90’s. In the meeting, McGlaun touched on everything from safety suggestions to tips and ideas to make the most of this rare event in Clinton County. Dan McGlaun is the founder and developer for the extremely popular website: www.eclipse2024.org. This site is a treasure trove of information customized for any point in the United States and beyond. Some entreprenuers are selling hundreds of campsites on thier land and letting renters keep the tents. Some airports set up fly-ins and have special menus and shower facilities. Airbnb owners and VRBO owners charge high overnight prices if they are in a good location. Some Schools will fill up football stadiums because of nearby facilities and lots of parking. Backyard BBQ get togethers will no doubt welcome friends and relatives to homeowners lucky enough to be in the “totality path”. WILO radio will have special programming on that day with reports, tips and safety reminders. Schools will have special learning and science programs and field trips to take it all in. Unfortunately, total solar eclipses historically have stopped interstate highway traffic and long lines of cars trying to get to their destinations can challenge first responders rushing to accidents and emergencies. Portable toilets may already be “sold out” for that day in many areas. According to McGlaun, solar-approved eyewear is already on backorder and will get more and more difficult and expensive to buy. Looking directly at the sun without proper eye protection is very dangerous and may cause permanent damage to your eyes.
Experiencing an eclipse in totality is a life-long memory and a unique experience. Totality is dramatically different than experiencing the same event outside the totality zone, according to McGlaun. Clinton Central and (barely) Frankfort High School and Middle School will be in totality. Clinton Prairie and Rossville schools will not enjoy totality on that Monday afternoon. Tammy Sander, communications and information coordinator for Clinton County helped organize the informational meeting for educators, first responders, School administrators, Main Street, Chamber of Commerce, Prairie Grass Observatory/Camp Cullom, elected officials, Coach Kids and other stakeholders that may help coordinate fun and educational activities for “The Total Solar Eclipse of April 8, 2024.” Clinton Prairie Consolidated Schools just passed the declaration of Monday, April 8, 2024 being an e-learning day.
The following cities and landmarks are going to be in totality:
- Kirklin: YES
- Antioch: YES
- Reagan: YES
- Michigantown: YES
- Boyleston: YES
- Hillisburg: YES
- Scircleville: YES
- Cyclone: YES
- Clinton Central School: YES
- Frankfort High School: YES (barely)
- Crossing School: YES
- Lebanon: YES
- Thorntown: YES
Kokomo: Northwest part of town NO, Southeast part of town, YES
- Clinton Prairie: NO
- Prairie Grass Observatory at Camp Cullom: NO
- Mulberry: NO
- Colfax: NO (except southeast tip of the town :>)
- Rossville: NO
- I-65 and 28: NO
- Lafayette: NO
- Forest: NO (except extreme southeast part of town :>)
To see an interactive map of totality and see if you live in the “totality zone” CLICK HERE.
Stay tuned to WILO AM 1570, 96.9 FM and 102.7 FM and Clinton County Daily News and Boone County Daily News for more information about “Eclipse 2024”.