“When is the next eclipse?” is a phrase uttered by almost all observers following a total solar eclipse, but one small town in Indiana has already prepared a compelling answer that goes way beyond books, maps and charts.
In precisely 42 days, a total solar eclipse will occur across North America, throwing parts of 15 U.S. states under the moon’s dark umbral shadow. For over 40 million people in homes, farms, towns and cities of all shapes and sizes within the narrow 115 miles wide path of totality, the sun will be entirely blocked by the moon for a few precious minutes. The prize is weird darkness in the day and a chance to stare at the sun’s spiky white corona with the naked eye. This is totality—and the experience of it changes onlookers forever. But it doesn’t happen very often.
It occurs, on average, only once every 375 years for any specific place on Earth. But such events are highly predictable, with solar eclipses mapped out through the year 3000.
Total Eclipse In The Heart
Thousands of festivals, activities, and observation events are being planned across the path. Lebanon in Boone County, Indiana—population 15,000—is putting together a time capsule they hope will be opened on February 25, 2343—319 years from today. That’s the date of Lebanon’s following total solar eclipse. Its last one was 819 years ago.
It’s part of the town’s “Total Eclipse In The Heart” event, the name a reference to the famous song by Bonnie Tyler from the 1980s. Cue a 1980s-themed weekend in Lebanon with music, lasers and Rubik’s cubes, though the centerpiece will be totality for 2 minutes 40 seconds at 3:06 p.m. CDT, according to Timeanddate. See Lebanon Eclipse 2024 for more details of that and more in the wider Boone County, which has the tagline “Get Mooned In Boone.” The banners are all across Lebanon, but after April’s eclipse, those banners will find a new home.
Time Capsule
“The idea of a time capsule just popped into my head when I saw the next date Lebanon will be in the path of totality,” said Joe LePage, CFRM Communications & Community Development, Lebanon, Indiana, in an interview. “Since none of us will be around for it I thought a time capsule would be fun.” It won’t be buried but displayed inside downtown Lebanon’s Carnegie Library. Inside will be promotional items from the 2024 eclipse, from eclipse glasses, shirts and stickers to bracelets and banners.
“Along with those items will be a school yearbook, a newspaper from April 8, and bottles of bourbon. Gin and vodka from the Old Boone County Jail Distillery,” said LePage. There will also be photos of people, though there is a slight problem with that. “The photos, including the names of the people in them, will be put together in a photo album because we don’t know how images will be viewed in 2343—though I’ll a USB and a disc just in case.”
Identical Eclipse
Weirdly, the total solar eclipse of 2343 will be almost identical to what happened on April 8, with a path about 100 miles wide heading from Mexico to Texas and eventually to Indiana, though it will then head north into Michigan and into Canada. According to this eclipse map calculator, 319 years from today, Lebanon will get totality for only 1 minute 32 seconds.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
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