One lucky Illinois town is right in the path of totality for the total solar eclipse – again.
For the 2024 total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, Carbondale in southern Illinois is on the “center line” of the path of totality, the state of Illinois said – just like it was in 2017.
“Southern Illinois is considered America’s eclipse crossroads because it was on the midline of the path of totality in 2017 and will be again in 2024,” according to the Department of Natural Resources. ‘Illinois.
At Southern Illinois University Carbondale, the school will hold a festival to celebrate the solar event, and classes will be canceled for the day.
“Classes on Eclipse Day (Monday, April 8) will be canceled, but the university will be open. Students will not be in class that day and are encouraged to participate in exciting events and activities on campus,” can we read on the school’s website. “All offices will be open all day but may close for a period in the afternoon so everyone can experience the whole thing.”
What time is the solar eclipse in Chicago and Illinois? See peak times across the state
In 2017, nearly 200,000 people witnessed the solar eclipse in southern Illinois, said Daniel Thomas, deputy director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Tourism Office, in a Press release.
A similar population influx is expected for Monday’s event. During the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, Carbondale will see four minutes and nine seconds of totality, double what it predicted in 2017.
“The 2024 solar eclipse will be visible for approximately 120 miles of Illinois on April 8,” the Illinois Department of Transportation said in a statement. “Totality enters Illinois crossing the southwest Missouri state line at Carbondale at 1:58 p.m. The eclipse will follow a diagonal line through Fairfield and leave Illinois at Mount Carmel at 2:06 p.m..”
There are also 31 state parks that will be in the path of the totality of the eclipse, officials said.
For those heading to southern Illinois to view the eclipse, the following tourist destinations are some of the places to stop along the way, according to the state’s tourism website.
Additionally, the following local national parks provide a scenic setting for a nature walk on eclipse day.
In northern Illinois, the Chicago area expects to see an estimated totality of 94%.
“Even though it’s a partial eclipse over Chicago, the sky will still get darker, with more than 90 percent of the sun covered,” said NBC 5 meteorologist Kevin Jeanes. On the Path of totality, the sky should become “much darker,” Jeanes said.
Interactive solar eclipse map
13 states and countless cities lie in the path of the total solar eclipse. Here’s a comprehensive interactive map that shows where the eclipse will take place and when.
When will the eclipse occur over Illinois and Chicago?
Here’s a city-by-city breakdown of what to expect and when, according to NBC Chicago and Time and Date.
Dawn
Start of partial eclipse: 12:50:22
Maximum eclipse: 14:06:37
End of partial eclipse: 15:21:07
Chicago
Start of partial eclipse: 12:51:28
Maximum eclipse: 14:07:41
End of partial eclipse: 15:22:02
DeKalb
Start of partial eclipse: 12:50:03
Maximum eclipse: 14:06:09
End of partial eclipse: 15:20:36
Evanston
Start of partial eclipse: 12:51:38
Maximum eclipse: 14:07:45
End of partial eclipse: 3:22:00 p.m.
Fox Lake
Start of partial eclipse: 12:51:29
Maximum eclipse: 14:07:20
End of partial eclipse: 15:21:26
Lombard
Start of partial eclipse: 12:50:57
Maximum eclipse: 14:07:09
End of partial eclipse: 15:21:33
Orland Park
Start of partial eclipse: 12:50:48
Maximum eclipse: 14:07:10
End of partial eclipse: 15:21:42
Plainfield
Start of partial eclipse: 12:50:19
Maximum eclipse: 14:06:39
End of partial eclipse: 15:21:14
Schaumburg
Start of partial eclipse: 12:51:05
Maximum eclipse: 14:07:10
End of partial eclipse: 15:21:29
Wheaton
Start of partial eclipse: 12:50:48
Maximum eclipse: 2:07:00 p.m.
End of partial eclipse: 3:21:25 p.m.
(Check your city here)
For those looking to go down the path of totality, here is a list of cities in Illinois that fall into this category, according to the Illinois DNR:
Carbondale
Totality begins: 13:59:15
Maximum eclipse: 14:01:20
End of totality: 14:03:25
Makanda
Totality begins: 13:59:09
Maximum eclipse: 14:01:14
Complete end: 14:03:19
Alto Pass
Totality begins: 13:58:56
Maximum eclipse: 14:01:01
Complete end: 14:03:06
Fairfield
Totality begins: 14:01:19
Maximum eclipse: 14:03:21
End of totality: 14:05:23
Olney
Totality begins: 14:02:12
Maximum eclipse: 14:04:07
Complete end: 14:06:03
Golconda
Totality begins: 14:00:39
Maximum eclipse: 14:02:04
Complete end: 2:03:30 p.m.
Effingham
Totality begins: 14:03:25
Maximum eclipse: 14:03:49
Complete end: 14:04:13
Mount Vernon
Start of totality: 2:00:35 p.m.
Maximum eclipse: 14:02:28
End of totality: 14:04:20
Marion
Totality begins: 14:01:53
Maximum eclipse: 14:03:54
Complete end: 14:05:56
NBC Chicago
