CARBONDALE - Southern Illinois University will make suites available in one of its residence halls for solar eclipse weekend in August.
Approximately 200 suites -- two residence hall rooms joined by a bathroom -- are available for the weekend, beginning Aug. 19, in Schneider Hall. Each suite will cost $800 for three nights, plus taxes.
Carbondale is in the path of totality for not one, but two total solar eclipses. The first total solar eclipse over the U.S. since 1979 will reach its point of greatest duration on Aug. 21 just a few miles south of the campus. The next solar eclipse will happen on April 8, 2024. The centerlines of totality for both of these eclipses intersect over Cedar Lake, which also is a short distance south of SIU.
Festivities will include the Crossroads Eclipse 2017 Research Workshop, the Crossroads Astronomy, Science and Technology Expo, the Crossroads Art and Craft Fair, and Eclipse Comic Con 2017.
Among SIU's partners for the eclipse are NASA, the Adler Planetarium of Chicago, the Louisiana Space Consortium, and Planetary Radio. The NASA EDGE global webcast of the eclipse will originate from just outside Saluki Stadium.
Schneider Hall is one of three high-rise residence halls on the east side of campus commonly referred to as "the towers."
Suites will be available after 11 a.m. on Aug. 19; all guests must be checked out by 11 a.m. on Aug. 22. Guests will get a wristband when they check in that they must wear to gain entry to the residence hall. Full payment is due when making reservations; there will be no refunds.
