Thousands of sky-gazers converged on Indianapolis on April 8 to view the once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse. Butler served as a popular gathering point, with Dr. Brian Murphy, Professor of Physics and Director of the Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium, offering detailed play-byplay (met with cheering and applause) for the large crowd concentrated on the lawn in front of the Observatory. The festive atmosphere included food trucks, games, elaborate picnic lunches, and all the eclipse t-shirts. It was enhanced by the Carillon’s celestial soundtrack playing in the background. The collective “ooooos” and “ahhhhhs” during totality put an exclamation mark on the historic event.

One group in attendance came together from opposite ends of the country and united on Butler’s campus. Making the trip from California, New Jersey, and Michigan, they had searched online for the perfect spot, “Someplace nice, someplace we hadn’t been. The [Holcomb] Observatory seemed like there’d be people that knew what they were doing and were right there.”

“Sharing the cosmos with the community at Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium, my adventure began as a first-year faculty member with the fascinating 1994 annual solar eclipse. Now, as I bid farewell, my academic journey culminates with an unforgettable grand finale—celebrating my retirement amid the awe-inspiring spectacle of the 2024 total solar eclipse, surrounded by thousands of fellow eclipse enthusiasts.”

Dr. Brian Murphy, Emeritus Professor of Physics and Director of the Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium