NASA cancels moon rover mission after spending $450 million on development
After spending $450 million to build a water-seeking moon rover, NASA announced on Wednesday, July 17, it is scrapping the mission because of increased costs and launch delays. The agency said that the move will save it an estimated $84 million in developmental costs.
NASA said that the decision to cancel the mission was purely budget-based and that all tests to this point had been successful. At the time of the cancellation announcement, the rover, called the VIPER, was reportedly undergoing environmental testing and the vehicle was completely assembled.
The VIPER remains completely assembled and NASA said that its parts may be used for future missions to the moon. However, the agency said that it will first determine if industry partners are interested in the rover “as-is.”
The VIPER rover had aimed to explore the moon’s south pole in search of ice deposits, spending a total of 100 days on the lunar surface.
Originally scheduled to launch last year, the liftoff date had been rescheduled until 2025 aboard the Astrobotic Griffin Lander.
The announcement came just days before the 55th anniversary of the first humans ever landing on the moon. On July 20, 1969, Americans Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first men to land and walk on the moon.
Meanwhile, the lander is still scheduled to launch without the rover by the end of 2025. The company that owns the lander had its first launch end in failure as the rocket became engulfed in flames and plunged into the South Pacific.
Scientists discover cave on the moon that could shelter humans
Scientists have confirmed the discovery of a sizable cave on the moon, located near where Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed 55 years ago. This cave, accessible from the deepest known pit on the moon, is situated at the Sea of Tranquility, approximately 250 miles from the Apollo 11 landing site.
An Italian-led team reported the finding on Monday, July 15, using radar measurements from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter compared with lava tubes on Earth. The researchers estimate the cave to be at least 130 feet wide and tens of yards long. The cave is part of a pit created by the collapse of a lava tube, similar to more than 200 others discovered on the moon.
The findings, published in “Nature Astronomy,” suggest these caves could serve as natural shelters for astronauts, providing protection from cosmic rays, solar radiation and micrometeorite strikes. This could be more efficient than building habitats from scratch, despite the potential need to reinforce cave walls.
Researchers noted that most pits are in the moon’s ancient lava plains, with some potentially at the south pole — NASA’s planned location for future astronaut landings. Permanently shadowed craters at the south pole might contain frozen water, useful for drinking and rocket fuel.
The unaltered material inside these caves offers valuable insights into the moon’s volcanic activity and evolution. As lunar exploration continues, these natural formations could play a crucial role in supporting long-term human presence on the moon.
During NASA’s Apollo program, 12 astronauts landed on the moon, beginning with Armstrong and Aldrin on July 20, 1969.
Trump appears at Republican National Convention; Vance nominated as VP
Days after surviving an assassination attempt, former President Donald Trump made an appearance at the Republican National Convention (RNC) and named J.D. Vance his vice president pick. And the Secret Service director answers questions as the agency is under fire following the deadly shooting. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, July 16, 2024.
Trump appears at Republican National Convention; Vance nominated as VP
The Republican National Convention kicked off Monday, July 15, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, just two days after former President Donald Trump survived the assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. Day one saw Trump officially secure the GOP’s nominee for president with Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance becoming the party’s nominee for vice president.
While Trump’s presence on the first day was not a guarantee when the event began, all questions were answered just after 9 p.m. central time, when the former president made his entrance. He was wearing a bandage over his ear and met with cheers from the emotional convention crowd along with chants of “we want Trump!” and “fight!”
Trump joined his running mate in the stands. During the Roll Call of the States earlier in the day, Trump received the delegates needed to become the GOP’s nominee, with his son Eric making it official.
“On behalf of our entire family and on behalf of the 125 delegates in the unbelievable state of Florida, we hereby nominate every single one of them for the greatest president that’s ever lived,” Eric Trump said. “And that’s Donald J. Trump, hereby declaring him the Republican nominee for President of the United States of America.”
Speculation surrounding Trump’s VP pick came to an end not long after, with Vance officially joining the ticket.
Secret Service director, President Biden answer questions on security
As the investigation continues into the assassination attempt against former President Trump that left one spectator dead, the Secret Service is facing tough questions on its protocols and how the gunman was able to get so close to the former president. In her first network interview since the July 13, shooting, Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle spoke to ABC News, saying this was an incident that should have never happened.
“What I would say is the Secret Service is responsible for the protection of the former president,” Cheatle said. “The buck stops with me. I am the director of the Secret Service. It was unacceptable and it’s something that shouldn’t happen again.”
.@PierreTABC has an exclusive interview with Kim Cheatle, the Director of the Secret Service, with Cheatle saying, "The buck stops with me." The interview comes as new video shows the alleged gunman climbing onto the roof moments before he fired. https://t.co/mwmiaP88Tbpic.twitter.com/7rZokWLCh4
President Biden has ordered an “independent review” of the agency’s protocol, though Cheatle said she already plans to make immediate changes.
In an interview with NBC News on Monday, July 15, Biden was asked his thoughts on the Secret Service.
“Do you have confidence in the Secret Service,” Nightly News anchor Lester Holt asked. “Do you feel safe?”
“I feel safe with the Secret Service,” Biden assured him. “But look, you saw the — what we did see was the Secret Service who responded risked their lives responding. They were ready to give their lives for the president. The question is: Should they have anticipated what happened? Should they have done what they needed to do to prevent this from happening? That’s the question that’s — that’s an open question.”
In the interview, the president was also pressed on the calls from members of his party for him to step aside as the Democratic nominee. Biden said he’s holding to his decision to remain in the race, reiterating his performance at the June 27 debate was just a bad night.
Elon Musk to donate $45 million a month to new pro-Trump super PAC
Billionaire Elon Musk says he’s planning on donating $45 million a month to a pro-Trump super PAC, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The group, called America PAC, launched in June and is backing former President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign.
Records show Musk did not donate to it in June, and it’s unclear if he’s donated yet in July. Other backers of the PAC include former U.S. Ambassador to Canada Kelly Craft and crypto billionaires Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss.
In March, Musk said he would not contribute to either former President Trump’s or President Biden’s campaigns. However, on Saturday, July 13, following the assassination attempt, Musk posted to X that he fully endorsed Trump.
Trump-appointed judge drops classified docs case, special counsel to appeal
Special Counsel Jack Smith said he’ll appeal a federal judge’s decision to dismiss former President Trump’s classified documents case. Florida Judge Aileen Cannon — who was appointed to her seat by Trump — dropped the case Monday.
Cannon ruled Smith’s appointment as prosecutor for the case violated the appointments clause of the Constitution because he was given the job by Attorney General Merrick Garland. In her ruling, Cannon said the Constitution’s appointments clause requires “officers of the United States” be appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
Trump was accused of illegally retaining hundreds of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida after leaving the White House in January 2021. He had denied any wrongdoing.
Hacker group claims it leaked Disney’s Slack, internal info
Data from Disney’s internal Slack communications program has been leaked online by an activist hacking group, including discussions about ad campaigns and studio technology.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the hackers say they also published data that contains information about unreleased projects, interview candidates, some logins and images of employees’ dogs. The leak totaled roughly 1.2 terabytes of information dating back to 2019.
A spokesperson for the group, called NullBulge, said it targeted Disney for how it “handles artists’ contracts, its approach to AI and its blatant disregard for the consumer.”
The cave was found not far from where astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed 55 years ago.
In a paper published in “Nature Astronomy,” an Italian-led team said it found evidence of a sizable cave accessible from the deepest known pit on the moon. The pit is called the Sea of Tranquility, found about 250 miles from Apollo 11’s landing site.
So far, they’ve only gotten a look at the initial part of the cave, but scientists estimate it’s at least 130 feet wide and tens of yards long.
China’s Chang’e 6 brings back samples from far side of the moon
After 53 days, China’s Chang’e 6 became the first mission to successfully bring samples from the far side of the moon back to Earth. The return capsule landed in China just after 2 p.m. local time Monday, June 24.
The capsule is expected to contain around two kilograms of moon dust and rocks to be analyzed by Chinese researchers and then by international scientists.
“The Chang’e-6 lunar exploration mission has been a complete success,” Zhang Kejian, head of the China National Space Administration, said.
China’s successful mission is the latest achievement in the modern space race. The U.S. is set to send to astronauts back on the moon as early as 2026, while China plans on doing the same by 2030.
Julian Assange agrees to plea deal with US government
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is set to plead guilty to a conspiracy charge as part of a plea deal with the Justice Department. And a historic space mission by China brings back samples from the far side of the moon. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, June 25, 2024.
Julian Assange agrees to plea deal with U.S. government
A legal case that spanned nearly 15 years is scheduled to be resolved Tuesday, June 25, when WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange pleads guilty to violating U.S. espionage law. Assange left a British prison Monday, June 24, where he has spent the last five years, and boarded a plane headed for the Northern Marina Islands, a U.S. commonwealth in the Western Pacific. The plane made a stop in Bangkok to refuel.
According to court documents, Assange has agreed to a plea deal with the U.S. government, where he will plead guilty to a single charge of conspiring to unlawfully obtain and disclose classified national defense documents. Charges against him stem from the release of classified information more than a decade ago, including reports on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the detainees at Guantanamo Bay.
Assange is expected to be sentenced to the five years already served, sparing him from additional prison time. He is then expected to return to his home country of Australia to be joined by his wife, Stella, and two children.
"Journalism should be more like science. As far as possible, facts should be verifiable.
If journalists want long-term credibility for their profession, they have to go in that direction. Have more respect for readers." – Julian Assange #LetHimGoJoepic.twitter.com/c0JdgYlzIE
Assange’s wife told Reuters the couple will be seeking a pardon.
“Of course, I mean, I think that the correct course of action from the U.S. government should have been to drop the case entirely,” Stella Assange said. “We will be seeking a pardon obviously, but the fact that there is a guilty plea under the Espionage Act in relation to obtaining and disclosing national defense information is obviously a very serious concern for journalists and national security journalists in general.”
Prosecutors said the Northern Marina Islands was chosen for the location of the hearing because of its proximity to Australia and that Julian Assange had opposed to traveling to the U.S. mainland.
The hearing is set for 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 26, local time, which is 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 25 EDT.
Hunter Biden’s attorneys request new trial
Hunter Biden is seeking a new trial. Less than two weeks after his conviction on federal gun charges, attorneys for the president’s son have requested a new trial, saying his convictions should be vacated because the trial started before a circuit court had formally denied his appeal.
They argue that means the Delaware court that tried him did not have jurisdiction.
Hunter Biden was found guilty earlier this month on three federal charges related to buying a gun while being a drug user.
In a separate filing Monday, Hunter Biden’s lawyers argue the Supreme Court’s recent decision to uphold a federal ban on firearms for people under domestic violence restraining orders supports their motion for an acquittal or “at a minimum” a new trial.
His attorneys said because Hunter Biden never acted violently toward anyone or misused the gun, the charges against him are unconstitutional.
Bankruptcy trustee plans to shut down Alex Jones’ ‘Inforwars’
A federal bankruptcy court trustee is planning to shut down Alex Jones’ media company “Infowars.” The plan is to sell it off to pay for Jones’ $1.5 billion settlement he owes to families of the victims of the Sandy Hook Massacre.
The move comes weeks after a federal judge in Texas ruled to liquidate Jones’ personal assets but did not determine the fate of “Infowars.” Jones used the platform to say the 2012 shooting that left 20 children and six educators dead “was all a hoax.”
The trustee also asked a judge to put an immediate hold on the efforts by some of the Sandy Hook families to collect the massive amount Jones owes them. The trustee said that would interfere with his plans to close “Infowars’” parent company, Free Speech Systems, and sell off its assets — with much of the proceeds going to the families.
Parents sue over Louisiana’s Ten Commandments in schools law
Parents in Louisiana are suing their state’s education department and local school boards over the new law requiring the Ten Commandments be displayed in all public schools. They said it’s unconstitutional.
In court filings, the nine families — backed by civil liberties groups — argue the law “substantially interferes with and burdens” their First Amendment right to raise their kids in whichever religion they want.
Louisiana governor defends 10 Commandments in schools mandate: 'The US is founded on Judeo-Christian values' https://t.co/3z2aKPOeIi
Under the new law, signed by Gov. Jeff Landry, R, on June 19, a poster-sized version of the Ten Commandments would have to be displayed in all public K-12 classrooms and state-funded universities in Louisiana.
The families are seeking an order to stop that from happening.
2 federal judges block key parts of Biden student debt forgiveness plan
Two federal judges in Kansas and Missouri have blocked key aspects of President Joe Biden’s student debt relief plan that lowers payments. The Monday June 24 rulings will stop the Biden administration from any further implementation of its SAVE program.
The plan — which ties how much someone pays each month to what their income is — has been in place for almost a year.
New: Today, two judges in two different suits halted Biden's SAVE plan—the student debt repayment plan that would cancel some debt + cut some borrowers' payments in half—effective in July.
This means the second phase of the plan, which would’ve reduced monthly payments from 10% of a borrower’s discretionary income to 5%, is on pause. So is any further cancellation of debt for people who took out smaller initial loan payments and have been paying for 10-plus years.
However, the 8 million people who are already enrolled can keep using the SAVE plan until the cases are fully litigated.
China’s Chang’e 6 brings back samples from far side of the moon
After 53-days, China’s Chang’e 6 became the first mission to successfully bring samples from the far side of the moon back to Earth. The return capsule landed in China just after 2 p.m. local time Monday.
China’s Chang’e 6 moon probe has landed back on Earth after a 53-day journey, bringing with it the first-ever samples from the far side of the moon. pic.twitter.com/GndMDlVBbJ
The capsule is expected to contain around two kilograms of moon dust and rocks to be analyzed by Chinese researchers and then by international scientists.
China’s successful mission is the latest achievement in the modern space race. The U.S. is set to send to astronauts back on the moon as early as 2026, while China plans on doing the same by 2030.
Panthers win first Stanley Cup, defeat Oilers 2-1 in Game 7
They say there’s nothing like a Game 7 in sports — and hockey fans got to experience a memorable one Monday night. The Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history.
The Panthers were able to stop the momentum of the Edmonton Oilers, who fought back after being down three games to none to force a Game 7.
After losing the last three games, the Panthers rebounded, defeating the Oilers 2-1.
Despite being on the losing team, the Oilers’ Connor McDavid was named the postseason’s MVP. But it was the Panthers who got to hoist the Stanley Cup trophy over their heads in front of their home fans.
The U.S. was wary of China’s military having complete control over the space program, reflecting the escalating tech rivalry between the two nations.
The returned samples are expected to provide new insights into the moon’s geology and history. China aims to put a person on the moon by 2030.
China’s Chang’e-6 spacecraft heads to far side of the moon
China launched a Long March 5 rocket on Friday, May 3, carrying the Chang’e-6 spacecraft, aiming to be the first mission to return a sample from the far side of the moon. The spacecraft, named after the Chinese moon goddess, will take five days to reach the moon, with the mission spanning a total of 53 days.
“The Chang’e-6 aims to achieve breakthroughs in the design and control technology of the moon’s retrograde orbit, intelligent sampling, take-off and ascent technologies, and automatic sample-return on the far side of the moon,” Ge Ping, deputy director of the China National Space Administration’s (CNSA) Center of Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering said.
The Chang’e-6 mission includes four components: an orbiter, a lander, an ascender, and a reentry module. The lander will collect moon dust and rocks from the South Pole-Aitken basin, a large crater over 4 billion years old. Afterward, an ascender will carry the samples to the orbiter, which will transfer them to the reentry module for the return to Earth.
NASA worm returns as interest in space grows around the world
NASA’s logo from the ’50s to today have switched multiple times. First it was the meatball, then the worm, then back to the meatball, and now it’s both the meatball and the worm. The return of the worm comes as more countries and companies revive a space craze.
“It’s become a cult thing with a huge following,” Richard Danne, the man who designed the worm logo in the ’70s, said. “We had a lot of wonderful products, you know, rockets and space shuttles and the Hubble telescope. It’s sexy and exciting for people in that time. It was, but it’s still today. Aren’t people excited about manned space flight? Lunar missions coming up? I mean, it’s just revved up again.”
The meatball is NASA’s classic round multicolored logo with stars and a swoosh around the acronym. The worm is a smooth typeface in a warm red — different logos for different eras of space travel. The worm went out of fashion with the agency in the ’90s, replaced by the chunkier meatball.
But in 2017, the worm started cropping up on officially sanctioned T-shirts and merchandise. By 2022, the worm was emblazoned across the Artemis 1 rocket. The logo has only increased in use over the years since, with the worm appearing on souvenirs, uniforms and signs.
In 2023 a large statue of the worm appeared in front of the new Earth Information Center. This coincided with NASA bestowing the Exceptional Public Achievement medal upon Danne — the worm’s creator.
“It’s really wonderful for NASA,” Bert Ulrich, the multimedia liaison for NASA, said. “Because we’re able to express our message of going back to the moon in really fun, interesting ways and they incorporate the elegance of the worm or the more wow factor of the meatball in really, really wonderful ways.”
A change in look isn’t the only shift happening in recent years. A space craze comeback has also taken over the world, calling for a return to the classics as NASA plans its return to the Moon.
“It’s more popular today in the world than it was back then,” Danne said. “And that’s hard to explain, I think, but it’s just what it is. So there’s something at the core of the whole thing and the fact that it was serious but inspirational in a way. It’s hard to do with very simple things but that’s the way I’ve lived my life and career with simplicity so it works.”
Blind, visually impaired can hear April’s solar eclipse with new device
As the total solar eclipse crosses North America from Texas to Maine in April, blind or visually-impaired people will have the opportunity to experience this cosmic event through sound, thanks to a device called LightSound. Developed by the Harvard University Astronomy Lab and blind astronomer Wanda Diaz-Merced, LightSound translates ambient light into sound, offering a new way to experience an eclipse.
“We developed a device called the LightSound that essentially takes light and converts it to sound as a tool for the blind and visually impaired,” Allyson Bieryla, manager of the Astronomy Lab, explained.
This innovative technology will be available at public gatherings, enabling those who cannot see the eclipse to hear it instead.
The device works by converting the varying levels of light during an eclipse into different sounds: flute tones represent bright daylight, a clarinet sounds as the light dims during the eclipse and soft clicks signal the total eclipse phase when the moon completely obscures the sun.
“So one option, you can hook this up to a speaker, and then you can project the sound to an entire group,” Bieryla said, detailing how the device mimics the eclipse’s progression through sound. “As the sun is changing, this would be like the bright light of the sun. And then as it starts to dim, it goes away and the sound gets lower. And then the shadow comes in and it gets even lower and starts clicking.”
Initially starting with three devices for the 2017 eclipse, the team aims to distribute at least 750 LightSound devices this year to locations in Mexico, the U.S. and Canada. This effort is part of a larger goal to make astronomy more accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to see.
“This device isn’t just for a blind or low-vision person,” Bieryla said. “It could also be a tool for a person that engages with data differently.”
For those interested in creating their own LightSound device, the creators welcome individuals with soldering skills to take on the project, offering open-source code on their website.
Total solar eclipse means big business for US with Indy racing to be top spot
Indianapolis, Indiana, is known for many things: the Indy 500, being the birthplace of actor Brendan Fraser and talk show host David Letterman, and the home of the Peyton Manning-led Super Bowl XVI champion Colts. But now the town whose nicknames include Circle City and the Crossroads of America is seeking a new title: the Eclipse Capital of the Midwest.
For an entire weekend in April, Indiana’s capital will host a series of events all centered around one extraordinary show taking place millions of miles up. That’s right, America — a total solar eclipse is headed our way.
Well, total, only for people in Indiana or 14 other states.
“If you look at the path, [it] starts down in Austin, goes up through Dallas and all the way through Buffalo, but if you think about true mid-western cities, Cleveland is in the path but Indianapolis is smack dab in the crossroads of America and we are expecting 100,000 visitors at minimum to our city,” Clare Clark with Visit Indy told Straight Arrow News, speaking on the tourism the eclipse is expected to bring to the city.
On April 8, thousands will converge on Indy to join millions across the country looking up and gazing at the sky, as the sun, moon and Earth align in what’s called syzygy.
Dr. Kelly Korreck, the NASA program manager for the solar eclipse, said viewers will see the moon completely cover the sun, but that’s not all. Korreck said people will also see the sun’s outer corona — or atmosphere — which is “where our origins of space weather come from.”
A total solar eclipse is a rare event. It will be only the second time in seven years that the continental U.S. will experience one.
“There are 31.5 million people who are in that path and around 200 million who live within a few hours’ drive of that path,” Korreck said. “And the entire continental United States, as well as parts of Alaska and Hawaii, will be seeing a partial eclipse. So that’s over 300 million people will experience a part of this celestial event.”
Staying safe while viewing the eclipse
The same rules from the 2017 total solar eclipse apply here. Don’t look directly at the sun, at least for most of the eclipse. People will need solar viewing glasses or a handheld solar viewer to safely witness the eclipse and prevent eye damage. To view it using a camera, telescope or binoculars, people will need solar filters.
However, there is a time when it’s safe to look directly at the sun without any eye protection. People can take those shades off during the brief total phase.
“Now, during the totality itself, which can last up to four minutes in different parts of the U.S., you don’t need the glasses,” Dr. Alex Lockwood, NASA’s Eclipse Engagement lead, said. “You can actually look at the sun for the only time during the daytime. However, before and after, as the moon is eclipsing the sun, in order to witness this event and to see these spectacular Baily’s Beads that happen just as you see the craters of the moon, as the moon is fully covering the sun, in order to appreciate all of that phenomenon you need [to wear the eclipse] glasses.”
Those who don’t live in Indiana or any one of the 15 states in the 115-mile-wide path of totality are not out of luck, because a partial eclipse may still be visible. A partial eclipse happens when the moon covers most but not all of the sun. But even for a partial eclipse, people still need wear special glasses.
Sky’s the limit for eclipse-related offerings
However, if you are determined to see the total solar eclipse, how about viewing it at 30,000 feet?
Delta and Southwest are offering flights that pass through the path of totality. There was so much demand for it, Delta had to add a second path-of-totality flight after the first sold out.
Southwest partnered with Omni Hotels for a “Solarbration” sweepstakes. The lucky winner will fly on a plane predicted to be in the eclipse’s path and then stay in an out-of-this-world custom-designed hotel room inspired by the celestial event.
Businesses of all kinds are bringing the eclipse experience to customers in different ways.
Cleveland’s Market Garden Brewery created a hazy IPA called “The Totality.” The Donut Dude in Ohio is offering an eclipse special: seven donuts that display the different phases as the moon blocks the sun.
Fast-food spots are getting in on the fun, too. Sonic Drive-in released a limited-edition Blackout slush float that comes with a free pair of viewing glasses.
Indy becomes a top destination for total solar eclipse
Businesses and hotels in Indianapolis are buzzing in anticipation over the eclipse.
Clare Clark from Visit Indy touted the city is within a half-day drive to half of the nation’s population. Visit Indy is preparing for eclipse enthusiasts from Cincinnati, St. Louis, Madison, Wisconsin and other big cities to come and partake in the celebrations.
“If you want to take in the eclipse in the art and cultural lens you can go to Newfield which is our 152-acre museum,” Clark told Straight Arrow News.
Astronomy fans who also enjoy sports can camp out at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where NASA will be on hand to livestream the eclipse. NASA personnel will be joined by the family of Purdue alumnus Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the moon.
“We’re no stranger to hosting large scale events,” Clark said. “The Indianapolis 500 is the single largest sporting day event that brings 300,000 people to the Motor Speedway every May. This is what Indy does best. Our attractions, hotels, restaurants are all-hands-on-deck. We have 50 plus events that we are just monitoring right now in the city and more events are being added daily.”
Indy has company in wooing eclipse tourists
Indy is not alone in turning the eclipse into a memorable experience for tourists. All are hoping to see similar results to South Carolina in 2017, when that eclipse resulted in an economic impact of $269 million.
The Lone Star State, a major viewing hotspot for this eclipse, is hosting multiple events including the four-day Texas Eclipse Festival in Burnet. Morrilton, Arkansas, has an eclipse concert series and rising country music singer Dylan Marlowe is performing a post-eclipse concert in Rochester, New York.
The path of totality is certainly the place to be. Airbnb said it’s seen an increase of 1,000% in stays along the path. Expedia reported top cities are seeing massive spikes in hotel searches, up to 1,100%, and right there in the top 5 is that “Eclipse Capital of the Midwest” — Indianapolis.
“The eclipse won’t be coming through Indianapolis again until 2153, so this is truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Clark said. “And a proximity to all of those larger markets and how people can take a weekend or take a day trip to Indianapolis is what’s making us really hopeful about the influx of visitors we’re going to see on April 8.”
