Special Observation: Total Lunar Eclipse at the SIU Farms Astronomy Observation Area. Early morning of Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 3:30am – 6:30am (sunrise)
Free public astronomy observation of a total lunar eclipse at the SIU Carbondale Farms Astronomy Observation Area, located approximately 2 miles west of the main SIU campus off Chautauqua road. The site will be open to the public 3:30am – 6:30am on the morning of Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Earlier entry encouraged for individuals wanting to setup telescopes or photography equipment. A limited number of concrete telescope pads are available on a first come first served basis. Free onsite parking. From this location, the first phases of the eclipse through totality are visible with the moon setting in the final partial phase.
More information at:
https://eclipse.siu.edu/public-astronomy-observations/
This eclipse will be livestreamed by the NASA funded SIU STEM Education Research Center project, SolarSTEAM in partnership with the DEB Initiative. Telescope feeds will be streamed to @NASASolarSTEAM YouTube live channels from SIU Carbondale, Guadalajara, Mexico and Trinidad, Colorado. More livestream information at:
https://solarsteam.siu.edu/3march2026_tle/
Lunar eclipse timing:
P1 (start of penumbral phase): 8:44:22UT / 2:44:22CST.
U1 (start of partial phase): 9:50:00UT = 3:50:00 CST.
U2 (start of totality): 11:04:26 UT = 5:04:26 CST.
U3 (end of totality): 12:02:45UT = 6:02:45 CST.
Sunrise: 6:29am.
Visitors are welcome to bring their own chairs, blankets, telescopes or photography equipment, food and drink. No alcohol or smoking onsite. Park with your headlights facing out away from observation area. Keep white lights in observation area to a minimum. Bring your own red light. A limited number of telescopes will be setup for the public to view the and other celestial objects.
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