KEY Academy event series set to spotlight upcoming solar eclipse
KOKOMO, Ind. —Get ready to experience the first total solar eclipse visible in north central Indiana in more than 200 years by attending Indiana University Kokomo’s KEY Academy.
Patrick Motl, professor of physics and resident astronomy expert, will lead Dark as Dusk, a series of events leading up to the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event,” Motl said, noting that IU Kokomo is on the north edge of the path of totality.
“Experiencing a total solar eclipse is nothing like any other part of an eclipse,” he said. “The last time we had totality was in 1806, and the next one will be in 2334.”
The culmination of the five-part series will be a reception at the Kelley House, followed by eclipse viewing with Motl, either at the Observatory or Kresge Auditorium, during the April 8 eclipse.
Advance registration is required. Participants can register for the entire series for $140, or individual sessions. Tickets for the February 26 dinner and event are $50 – all other sessions are $25 per experience. Sessions will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. in Kresge Auditorium unless otherwise noted. Register for the full series at expand.iu.edu/browse/key/programs/dark-as-dusk-series Links to register for individual events follow each description.
Topics include:
- Monday, February 12: “What is an eclipse, and what to expect in totality.” Register at expand.iu.edu/browse/key/courses/dark-as-dusk-what-to-expect
- Monday, February 26: An evening with Phil Plait, author of The Bad Astronomer newsletter. The evening begins with dinner at 5:30 p.m. in the Main Building Havens Conference Room with a presentation at 7 p.m. in Havens Auditorium. Register at expand.iu.edu/browse/key/courses/dark-as-dusk-dinner
- Monday, March 11: Eclipse photography, videography, and citizen science projects. Learn from experts how to safely capture images from the eclipse. Register at expand.iu.edu/browse/key/courses/dark-as-dusk-photography.
- Monday, March 25: Eclipses from a Different Perspective: Participants will consider eclipses through the lens of multiple cultures, sciences, arts, and history. Register at expand.iu.edu/browse/key/courses/dark-as-dusk-perspectives.
- Monday, April 8: KEY Academy reception starting at 1:30 p.m., followed by eclipse viewing. Register at expand.iu.edu/browse/key/courses/dark-as-dusk-viewing-reception
The total solar eclipse is expected at 3:04 p.m. on Monday, April 8, traveling from Mexico through the U.S. to the maritime provinces of Canada.
According to NASA, an eclipse takes place when a planet or moon passes between another planet, moon, or the sun. A total solar eclipse happens when the moon lines up with the earth and blocks the sun’s radiant light, which casts a shadow on the earth.
Education is KEY at Indiana University Kokomo.