The optimal time of visibility is at 1:36p.m. in Killeen for a duration of 4 minutes and 16 seconds.

Killeen’s population is estimated to double (160,000 X 2= 320,000). Bell County’s population is expected to triple.

The City of Killeen is partnering with Central Texas College and the Mayborn Science Theater. They will have a list of events to announce soon.

Central Texas College Eclipse 2024 tentative Schedule of Events:

Friday, April 5^th – Mayborn Science Theater: Open 4-9p.m. for shows in the Planetarium

• Saturday, April 6^th – Mayborn Science Theater: Open 11a.m. – 8p.m. for shows/speakers and crafts
• Saturday, April 6^th – Mayborn Science Theater: Special Evening Event (Time is TBA)
• Sunday, April 7^th – Mayborn Science Theater: Open 11a.m. – 8p.m. for shows, speakers and crafts
• Monday, April 8^th– Mayborn Science Theater: Open to the public 8a.m. – 5:30p.m. Will have shows until 11:30a.m., then move for solar eclipse viewing; Shows return beginning at 3:30p.m.
• There will be presentations by NASA personnel, meteorologist Bill Hecke, and astronomer Warren Hart over the course of the three days. This will also be broadcast on KNCT-FM.

The City of Killeen encourages citizens to wear the specialized sunglasses for this, and any solar eclipse, event. Our libraries will be distributing 2,000 solar eclipse glasses at no charge. They will be handed out at informational programs that will be held in March 2024 (one pair per attendee). While people do not have to have a library card to get a pair, they must attend the whole program.

CTC will be selling merchandise and glasses from Friday, April 5^th – Monday, April 8^th, 2024. The glasses will be sold for $3 per pair.

At this time, no additional cell phone towers are planned.

Stock up on fuel and groceries for the days leading up to and days after the event (April 8, 2024.)

-Plan your daily errands ahead of time

-Prepare for traffic and stay off of main roads (both in the week leading up to the eclipse, the day of, as well as the day afterward)

-Sign-up for emergency notifications by going to www.KilleenTexas.gov/OEM.

Stock up on fuel and groceries two weeks ahead of time and days after the event (April 8, 2024.)

-Have an online reservation system for food or seating

-Schedule staffing with heavy traffic in mind

Sign-up for emergency notifications by going to www.KilleenTexas.gov/OEM.

KISD has announced that April 8, 2024 will be a district holiday.  Please look out for announcements directly from other school districts. 

Fort Cavazos has announced that Apr. 8, 2024 will be a training holiday with essential personnel only.

Central Texas is not scheduled to experience one again for more than 40 years

Please visit our Killeen Convention and Visitor Bureau’s Eclipse 2024 webpage for more information here.

The City of Killeen has been working with our community partners since Spring 2022 to prepare, but we ask that citizens contact those individual organizations directly. They include Central Texas College, the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce, Innovation Black Chamber of Commerce, National Mounted Warrior Museum, III Corps and Fort Cavazos, Texas A&M University-Central Texas and the Killeen Independent School District.

• Looking directly at the sun is unsafe, except during the brief time that the moon entirely blocks the Sun
• The only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as “eclipse glasses” or hand-held solar viewers. Ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe.
•  If you normally wear eyeglasses, keep them on. Put your eclipse glasses on over them, or hold your handheld viewer in front of them.

•  Seek expert advice from an astronomer before using a solar filter with a camera, a telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device.