Newsroom live blog: The 2024 total solar eclipse

Indianapolis is in the path of totality for the 2024 solar eclipse – officials expect over 100,000 people are here to see the rare celestial event with their own eyes (and a safe pair of eclipse glasses).

Use this page to follow along with WFYI's news team throughout the day, as they meet people around the city to see how the whole thing goes down.

7:10 p.m.

3:06 p.m.

Totality with the Boss family in Tarkington Park:

3:00 p.m.

Six minutes to go!

WFYI's video team is capturing the eclipse from the roof of our parking garage – we'll get it posted as soon as we can:

2:40 p.m.

A photo of the crowd at Conner Prairie, from Sydney Dauphinais:

2:35 p.m.

Jack La Lone of New Carlisle brought his Celestron telescope with him to view the eclipse today outside Butler University's Holcomb Observatory. And he's eager to show it off to anyone who wants to take a peak through the lens.

This is La Lone's second time experiencing a total solar eclipse. The first time was in 2017. He said he's obsessed with all things space. And he was worried about today's weather.

"Oh, very excited. I was worried watching the weather come in," La Lone said. "I've been watching for a week now, nervously. I was like, well, we'll just have clouds and we'll have cold and then we'll have clouds again. And now, I mean, it looks like we're going to get the full experience. It's exciting, and the cloud cover is very, very thin so we'll still be able to see through it."

2:30 p.m.

A few photos from the scene at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, from Ben Thorp:

2:06 p.m.

The partial eclipse has officially begun – we're exactly one hour away from totality.

Reporter Lee V. Gaines is at the Holcomb Observatory at Butler University, where a big crowd has formed on the lawn:

@LeeVGaines at @butleru Follow our eclipse coverage around town by tapping the link in our bio. pic.twitter.com/sLImQ0DqiK

— WFYI News (@WFYINews) April 8, 2024

1:40 p.m.

Stands are filling up for the eclipse action at the speedway. @WFYINews pic.twitter.com/plJ2vfqFD8

— Jill Sheridan Poulos (@JillASheridan) April 8, 2024

1:20 p.m.

Ace Li and Connor Watson with Tactile Engineering showing off the Cadence tablet which allows the eclipse to be communicated using braille pic.twitter.com/y2cjBQfRWw

— Benjamin Thorp (@sad_radio_lad) April 8, 2024

1:10 p.m.

73-year-old Jack Putnam (pictured below, left, with his brother-in-law Bob Nordloh, right) traveled to Fishers from Dayton, Ohio to see the total solar eclipse. He says he and his wife have been planning to see it for over a year.

“Indiana was really publicizing this and there was no publicizing going on in the state of Ohio or the Dayton area," Putnam said. "So she started looking for motel rooms.”

This will be the first time Putnam has experienced totality.

12:45 p.m.

About one hour to go before the start of the eclipse! See detailed times right here.

Kendall Antron, our managing digital editor, visited White River State Park this morning:

11:50 a.m.

Important content with @JillASheridan @WFYINews pic.twitter.com/NPmR3ZZyAV

— Benjamin Thorp (@sad_radio_lad) April 8, 2024

11:35 a.m.

Update from Jill Sheridan at Indianapolis Motor Speedway – an eclipse donut has appeared:

10:55 a.m.

Reporter Ben Thorp is at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where Indiana officials gathered with experts from NASA. NASA and Purdue University will host educational events there, in addition to performing research.

NASA’s Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy (pictured below) says the space agency is hosting several events across the country.

“Today millions of Americans will stand together looking up at the sky in awe,” Melroy said.

Big @LifeAtPurdue presence here. @GovHolcomb talks about the stars aligning - plans to head to Phoenix with @PurduePresident for the NCAA championship as soon as the eclipse ends @WFYINews pic.twitter.com/CfTB6Yywpq

— Benjamin Thorp (@sad_radio_lad) April 8, 2024

10:40 a.m.

Reporters Sydney Dauphinais and Abriana Herron are at Conner Prairie, where an eclipse festival is happening from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m..

Dauphinais reports there were around 2,400 tickets sold as of this morning, and they're expecting walk-ups throughout the day.

Here at Conner Prairie with @syddauphinais. We’ll be here all day for the total solar eclipse!! @WFYINews pic.twitter.com/tEpglwWUAp

— Abriana Onyai Herron ❤️ (@abri_onyai) April 8, 2024

I'm at Conner Prairie all day today with @abri_onyai for the solar eclipse!! pic.twitter.com/8UUxef6CkL

— Syd (@syddauphinais) April 8, 2024

10:25 a.m.

There's been some worry over the last week that cloud cover might obscure the solar eclipse for some along the path of totality. You can check the latest weather forecast for Indianapolis right here, and the latest detailed prediction from the National Weather Service in this graphic:
 

Eclipse weather forecast points to clear skies in the Northeast and central US via @AP https://t.co/poUPXzJ3mJ

— WFYI News (@WFYINews) April 8, 2024

6:00 a.m.

Public schools districts in Marion County are either cancelled or doing remote learning today because of the total solar eclipse.

The partial phase of the eclipse will begin around 1:50 p.m., with totality starting around 3:05 p.m. This coincides with dismissal time for many schools.

School officials don't want children, parents and buses stuck on the roads. And since school buildings are closed, parents and caregivers will be responsible for making sure their kids wear solar eclipse glasses to protect their eyes.