Many in the community have had April 8 marked on their map for some time now as much of Southern Illinois will again be able to see a total solar eclipse that afternoon.

The last eclipse visible from the region took place rather recently on Aug. 21, 2017, and it’s projected that another eclipse visible in the U.S. won’t arrive until Aug. 23, 2044.

Per the blog site Great American Eclipse – which documents a tremendous amount of information concerning the 2023 annular solar eclipse and 2024 total solar eclipse – eclipses are caused by the strange coincidence that the sun is about 400 times larger in diameter than the moon while the moon is about 400 times closer to the Earth than the sun.

This relationship means the sun and moon are about the same size in the sky, allowing the moon to sometimes obscure the sun to a great extent.

The blog also explains that a total solar eclipse is the distinct phenomenon when the moon and sun – which can vary in relative sizes in the sky at times – are exactly aligned so that the moon covers all of the sun while the sun’s corona is still visible, seen as wisps of light emanating from the black moon.

There are two kinds of shadow caused by the moon during an eclipse, the umbra and penumbra. The penumbra is the outer shadow caused when and where a partial eclipse is visible while the umbra is the inner shadow of the moon, and those covered by this shadow – also known as the path of totality – will see the sun fully obscured.

Another eclipse phenomena described by the blog are shadow bands, which can appear similar to the patterns of light in a swimming pool on light-colored surfaces right before and after an eclipse’s totality.

Carbondale is the largest city in this region to land in the path of totality, and is expected to experience a little over four minutes of a total eclipse.

Though Monroe County residents got to experience totality during the 2017 eclipse, it falls just outside the northern edge of the path of totality this year.

Just down the road, however, Red Bud is set to fall right within that border, experiencing a little over one minute of totality at about 2 p.m.

Given the tremendous amount of traffic this area saw during the 2017 eclipse – and the expected tourism Carbondale and other nearby areas are expected to see this year – many organizations in Randolph County are hoping to attract attention and provide an ideal spot for eclipse viewing.

Quinn Johnson with the Red Bud Chamber of Commerce spoke about some of the activity she has heard about in anticipation for the eclipse.

She noted hearing that the World Shooting & Recreation Complex outside of Sparta had been fully booked for the day. She recalled hearing similarly about AirBNBs in the area.

Johnson spoke generally about the amount of traffic the community and rest of Randolph County is expected to see.

She specifically recalled the 2017 eclipse, when Red Bud organized a viewing event at Lincoln Park.

Her son was at daycare at St. John’s Lutheran School a few blocks away, but when the eclipse and event ended and she tried to pick him up, it took her over 40 minutes along a very round-about route to get there.

“It really surprises me how many people travel for this and come from all over the country – all over the world, actually – to see it,” Johnson said. “It really kind of blows my mind. We were not expecting traffic at all last time, and it was bumper to bumper. I’m pretty sure Route 3 all the way from Chester to Waterloo was just bumper-to-bumper traffic.”

While she said people traveling a significant distance to view the eclipse will likely do so in Carbondale or one of the areas getting a bit more time to witness eclipse totality, Red Bud is still anticipating some visitors from a little closer north like the Belleville area.

Those looking to view the eclipse alongside others have a myriad of venues to choose from.

The City of Red Bud is once again hosting a viewing event at Lincoln Park from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. featuring a DJ, with guests invited to bring a lawn chair and snacks.

Johnson also pointed to several businesses in the community she’s heard are planning events for the eclipse.

Lieferbrau Brewery at 118 E. Market Street is hosting a party from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., featuring music from Dustin Coleman from 12:30-3:30 p.m.

DeVinos Winery at 1522 W. Market Street (Route 3) is similarly hosting a party, though the business has yet to announce further details.

Johnson also noted that Bale Out at 7533 State Route 154 in Baldwin is planning a party from 12-6 p.m.

While not within the path of totality, several businesses and groups in Monroe County are also planning watch parties and events on April 8.

Atkins Acres Educational Farm at 7101 State Route 158 near Millstadt is inviting friends and family to bring chairs, blankets or hammocks from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., potentially planning on BBQ and fire pits for marshmallow roasting.

In downtown Waterloo, Uncle John’s RRR Bar is hosting a “Solar Eclipse Parrrty” starting at 10 a.m., and Stubborn German Brewing is hosting a “Kinda Shady Eclipse Party” from noon to 5 p.m.

Schorr Lake Winery in Waterloo is also hosting a party starting at 10:30 a.m., inviting guests to bring lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the eclipse in the vineyard.

Beyond local businesses, the solar eclipse has also been a topic of conversation amongst local school districts.

At meetings over the past few months, the Columbia School Board has opted to stay in session April 8 following a survey conducted among parents and staff indicating this preference.

The Waterloo School Board similarly conducted surveys, though those results indicated support for an off-day among both district staff and parents.

Within the path of totality, Red Bud Superintendent of Schools Jonathan Tallman said his district would remain in session April 8, with no district-wide plans but a general expectation teachers would be bringing their students outside.

Tallman noted that the day would be an excused absence for those parents wishing to keep their students home for the event.

For those seeking glasses to view the eclipse, Red Bud is offering two free glasses per household at City Hall. In Waterloo, Morrison-Talbott Library has similarly been offering glasses.

For more information on the April 8 event, including the types of glasses required to view the eclipse, visit greatamericaneclipse.com/illinois-2024-eclipse.