The 2024 solar eclipse is just days away, bringing a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle to skies across large parts North America, including Illinois.
For those in Illinois that end up missing it, it’ll be decades before you’ll see another one.
From protective eyewear and timing to the forecast and why this celestial event is so special, here’s everything you need to know about Monday’s total solar eclipse.
What time is the solar eclipse?
According to NASA scientists, the eclipse will take place on Monday, April 8 in the afternoon hours across the North American continent, with the area of totality impacting areas in southern Illinois and central Indiana.
During a total solar eclipse, the new moon intersects the path of the sun in the sky, causing the sun to be partially and then nearly completely blocked from view.
In Carbondale, Illinois, the partial eclipse on April 8 will begin at approximately 12:42 p.m. During this time, special glasses will be needed to view the eclipse, though there are other ways of seeing the moon’s impact on the sun’s light reaching the Earth.
At approximately 1:59 p.m., “totality” will begin in Carbondale, and during this time, stargazers will be able to look at the eclipse without any aid whatsoever, with darkened skies and the famed “corona” blazing around the edges of the moon.
This period will not last for very long, as totality is expected to end at approximately 2:03 p.m., according to NASA scientists.
The partial eclipse will continue for another hour, ending at approximately 3:18 p.m.
Where is the “path of totality?”
The eclipse’s “path of totality” will start in Southwest Texas and move northeast.
The path of totality includes the southern tip of Illinois, central and southern Indiana and Indianapolis. From there, it will race across Cleveland, Ohio; Buffalo, New York and into Maine.
The below map from the Adler Planetarium shows what the eclipse will look like in Illinois, with Carbondale, Mount Vernon, Metropolis and Mount Carmel among the southern Illinois cities in the path of totality.
What is the forecast and will you be able to see it if it’s cloudy?
Recent forecast projections indicate some cloudy conditions could be in store for the rare celestial event, which could still alter what you see in the sky, but much could change in the lead-up to the event.
According to the latest prediction from the National Weather Service, conditions appear to have cleared up for some parts of Illinois and Indiana, despite earlier potential for severe storms, but there’s still some uncertainty surrounding cloud cover for parts of northern Illinois and the Chicago area. Still, the NWS urges people to check back and “expect the forecast to change.”
According to the NBC 5 Storm Team, there’s a good chance early morning clouds will clear Monday, making the partial eclipse visible in Chicago.
“Even 100% clouds, it could be thin clouds and you still may see at least a filtered view of the solar eclipse,” NBC 5 Meteorologist Kevin Jeanes said. “So just because you see a lot of clouds on a computer model it doesn’t mean you’re not going to be able to see anything.”
“If you have high thin clouds, it can block the view slightly but will still allow for much of the eclipse to be visible,” Meteorologist Alicia Roman said. “If you have low, thick clouds … it will still look darker for the duration of the eclipse, it just wont be as dramatic as if it were a sunny day and turning completely dark the next second. The skies will just dim or get a little darker.”
Jeanes noted the models Thursday showed the average cloud cover around 45% in Chicago and 26% Indianapolis, “which is one of the lower percentages if you look across the path of totality.”
“I think the more concerning area for cloud cover is going to be actually farther south across…
This article was originally published by a www.nbcchicago.com . Read the Original article here. .