Did it get colder during the Solar Eclipse? Here’s the science behind what you felt – NBC Chicago

Editor’s Note: Live coverage of the eclipse from the path of totality begins in the player above from 7am. Tune in for the whole thing live starting at 1:55 p.m.

Did you feel this?

According to the NBC 5 Storm Team, temperatures will drop slightly during Monday’s total solar eclipse, which began in Illinois around 1 p.m. CST.

At noon, the forecast temperature was 65 degrees, said NBC 5 meteorologist Alicia Roman. Around 2 p.m., which is closer to when the Chicago area will see its maximum eclipse of about 94%, the temperature will drop slightly, until ‘at about 63 degrees.

At 4 p.m., the Chicago area is expected to reach its high for the day, 70.

“Even though it’s a partial eclipse over Chicago, the sky will still get dark, with more than 90 percent of the sun covered,” said NBC 5 meteorologist Kevin Jeanes. “You’ll notice the crescent shape of the sun in all the shadows and through the lens of your phone’s camera. It sounds ominous but it’s a very exciting moment.”

An animation from the Time and Date website revealing what the eclipse is expected to look like in Chicago shows the moon slowly approaching the sun. It then moves to cover 90% of the sun, leaving only a visible glow. The moon then turns upward and moves away.

On the path to totality, the entire disk of the Moon covers the entire disk of the Sun.

“There is an astronomical difference between a partial and total solar eclipse, both literally and figuratively,” Jeanes said. “The sky becomes much darker during a total eclipse, the temperature can drop up to 10 degrees, animals start to behave differently, but most importantly, you can see the outer edge of the radiation coming from the sun without having to shield your eyes. just for a few minutes.”

According to NASA, the experience is similar to what happens when the sun disappears at dusk.

“As the sunlight fades at dusk, we always notice how things start to cool,” a NASA article says. “The same goes for temporary dimming during a total solar eclipse.”

“The Moon’s shadow is literally cool!” NASA added. “As it swept through Lusaka, Zambia, on June 21, 2001, the air temperature dropped nearly 15 degrees F.”

What is a total solar eclipse?

According to NASA scientists, a total solar eclipse occurs when the new moon crosses the path of the sun in the sky, partially blocking then almost completely the view of the sun.

In Carbondale, the largest Illinois city included in the path, totality will begin around 1:59 p.m. Totality is expected to end around 2:03 p.m. as the eclipse follows a diagonal line above Fairfield and exits at Mount Carmel, depending on the state. civil servants.

If you’re in the Chicago area, that means you won’t be able to see the eclipse in its entirety, but there is a silver lining: the partial eclipse will be visible for a while longer. For areas outside the path of totality, such as Chicago, solar eclipse glasses should be worn.

Solar Eclipse Times in Illinois

Here’s a city-by-city breakdown of what you can expect and when, based on time and date. Check your city here.

Cook County:

Chicago

Start of partial eclipse: 12:51:28

Maximum eclipse: 2:07:41

End of partial eclipse: 3:22:02

Evanston

Start of partial eclipse: 12:51:38

Maximum eclipse: 2:07:45

End of partial eclipse: 3:22:00

Orland Park

Start of partial eclipse: 12:50:48

Maximum eclipse: 2:07:10

End of partial eclipse: 3:21:42

Schaumburg

Start of partial eclipse: 12:51:05

Maximum eclipse: 2:07:10

End of partial eclipse: 3:21:29

DuPage County:

Dawn

Start of partial eclipse: 12:50:22

Maximum eclipse: 2:06:37

End of partial eclipse: 3:21:07

Lombard

Start of partial eclipse: 12:50:57

Maximum eclipse: 2:07:09

End of partial eclipse: 3:21:33

Wheaton

Start of partial eclipse: 12:50:48

Maximum eclipse: 2:07:00

End of partial eclipse: 3:21:25

DeKalb County:

DeKalb

Start of partial eclipse: 12:50:03

Maximum eclipse: 2:06:09

End of partial eclipse: 3:20:36

Lake County:

Fox Lake

Start of partial eclipse: 12:51:29

Maximum eclipse: 2:07:20

End of partial eclipse: 3:21:26

Kendall County:

Plainfield

Start of partial eclipse: 12:50:19

Maximum eclipse: 2:06:39

End of partial eclipse: 3:21:14

Illinois towns on the path to totality

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: 1:59:15

Maximum eclipse: 2:01:20

End of entirety: 2:03:25

Makanda

Totality begins: 1:59:09

Maximum eclipse: 2:01:14

End of entirety: 2:03:19

Alto Pass

Totality begins: 1:58:56

Maximum eclipse: 2:01:01

End of entirety: 2:03:06

Fairfield

Totality begins: 2:01:19

Maximum eclipse: 2:03:21

Complete end: 2:05:23

Olney

Totality begins: 2:02:12

Maximum eclipse: 2:04:07

End of entirety: 2:06:03

Golconda

Totality begins: 2:00:39

Maximum eclipse: 2:02:04

Complete end: 2:03:30

Effingham

Totality begins: 2:03:25

Maximum eclipse: 2:03:49

End of entirety: 2:04:13

Mount Vernon

Totality begins: 2:00:35

Maximum eclipse: 2:02:28

End of entirety: 2:04:20

Marion

Totality begins: 2:01:53

Maximum eclipse: 2:03:54

End of entirety: 2:05:56