The Southern Illinoisan reports the team, which includes people from two other Louisiana institutions, plans to launch two large weather balloons from Saluki Stadium.
The launch will occur about 90 minutes before the total eclipse, set for 1:21 p.m. on Aug. 21.
A balloon equipped with a video camera will send real-time images as the moon blots out the sun. That feed will be provided to a NASA television program which will broadcast from SIU.
The eclipse will be the first total solar eclipse over the U.S. mainland since 1979, and southern Illinois will be the site of its longest duration. Thousands of spectators from around the world are expected all along the path that also extends across western Kentucky.
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Information from: Southern Illinoisan, http://www.southernillinoisan.com