MILWAUKEE — The solar eclipse is just one week away, and people across Wisconsin are getting prepared.

What You Need To Know

  • The eclipse will take place on April 8

  • Many are traveling to the path of totality

  • Other events are happening in Wisconsin to experience the eclipse

The Badger State will be in between 80% to 90% coverage during the eclipse, outside the path of totality.

However, assuming clouds cooperate, Wisconsinites should still get a good view of the rare astronomical event.

Some are planning to travel to the path of totality. Even for people in far southeastern Wisconsin, that will be a minimum of about a 4.5 hour drive to central Indiana.

Areas of south-central Illinois are expected to be especially busy during the April 8 eclipse, with hotels booked and Amtrak trains between Chicago and Carbondale at capacity.

For those opting to stay closer to home, there are still many planned activities. Universities, museums and planetariums across the state have events planned.

Bob Bonadurer is the director of the Daniel M. Soref Planetarium at the Milwaukee Public Museum. Bonaduer said he hopes people can appreciate the importance of an eclipse.

“For most of us it is just the pure wonder of seeing such a rare event,” said Bonaduer.

The Milwaukee Public Museum is planning a public viewing event at the museum.

The museum said it will include presentations with telescopes and a chance to purchase safe eclipse-viewing glasses for $2.

While Bonaduer is hoping for good weather, he said there are also contingencies.

“Just in case, if we are eclipsed by clouds [we will have] a live feed from NASA in our garden gallery,” said Bonaduer.

To learn more about eclipse viewing events across the state, you can check out our Eclipse Viewing Guide  

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