Eclipse over campus

On the afternoon of April 8, 2024, Case Western Reserve University will be plunged into historic darkness as a solar eclipse casts its shadow over Cleveland.

For the first time in 200 years, Case will be in the path of totality, allowing the campus community to experience several minutes of abnormal twilight at around 3:15 p.m. Many see an opportunity to be seized.

“The next total solar eclipse that Cleveland would be a part of wouldn’t be happening until the 2400s,” said Bill Janesh, an Instructor of Astronomy in the College of Arts and Sciences.

“This is basically our only chance to have one without leaving town for another couple hundred years.”

Greater Cleveland will be in the narrow, 125-mile path of totality– the largest metro area to experience the totality phase.

Eclipse watchers are expected to descend on the region from across the U.S. to experience the eerie mid-day darkness. Astronomers and researchers, meanwhile, see a chance to observe rare celestial phenomenon as the Moon covers the Sun.

The Case Radio Club plans to orchestrate experiments as the eclipse offers insights into the physics of the Earth’s upper atmosphere. The Department of Astronomy will have its rooftop telescope open and configured for safe viewing (you can’t just stare at an eclipse). The department also plans to set up telescopes on Case Quad, so that people can view the eclipse in magnified form beginning about 2 p.m.

An Eclipse Planning Committee is spearheading the programming on Case Quad. 

“Our goal is to be the central point for communication on what’s going on, so people can decide how they want to spend their time in the days leading up to the eclipse,” said committee lead Kristina Collins ’16, MS ’19, PhD ’22. “We also want to ensure that there’s a historical record of our planning and interactions with the eclipse.” 

The university, meanwhile, is hosting a community watch party on Freiberger Field, where CWRU students, faculty and staff will lead an afternoon of science activities. Other campus groups are still planning their lectures, experiments and
activities–all pointing toward a rare celestial event.

Janesh predicts a spectacle for the university’s history books. 

“It’s a beautiful sight,” he said. “It is truly a once in a lifetime experience for this to happen in Cleveland, so I really encourage people to try to see it.”