Monday’s total solar eclipse will be a unique lesson for about 50 University of Chicago astronomy students. The class will head south to Carbondale to be in the path of totality.
“There’s something so amazing and powerful about everyone looking up to the sky,” freshman Maya Atassi said. “I want to inspire more people to do this during my career.”
For weeks, students have been learning about eclipses, the solar corona and what will happen when the moon perfectly blocks the sun. In Carbondale, the full eclipse will last four minutes.
“This is the only time we can see it with the naked eye,” said Professor Josh Frieman, head of the university’s department of astronomy and astrophysics.
Frieman will lead the bus trip to southern Illinois.
He said the weather forecast remained uncertain because it was possible that clouds could cover the eclipse. If this happens, it will still be dark and people will still see strange phenomena.
“The birds are silent. If you are near a farm, you may see the cows starting to come home. The dogs might start barking,” he explained. “What we won’t get if it’s cloudy is the incredible visual of the solar corona.”
The solar corona is composed of very hot gases and plasma escaping from the sun, visible to the naked eye during a total eclipse in the path of totality.
Chicago students won’t be the only ones heading toward totality.
Millions of people will have to navigate hours of traffic to get there, from Texas to Vermont. New data shows Airbnb and Vrbo rental listings are almost sold out.
“In almost every major city, we’re seeing a rate of 90% and above,” said Jamie Lane of Denver-based AirDNA, which tracks rental listings.
The company released a heat map showing intense rental interest all the way from coast to coast.
“Most events are very isolated, like a concert or a Super Bowl,” Lane said. “It really lit up the country.”
Students will return the same day, anticipating traffic and delays, but hoping to receive a unique lesson about our universe.
NBC Chicago
