Did you have a chance to look up to see the total solar eclipse on Monday? Otherwise, it will be a while before you have the next chance to see one in the United States – and even longer until it performs in Illinois again.
According to experts, complete solar eclipses occur every year, every two or three years, but they often occur in places where almost no one can see them – over the Pacific Ocean or Antarctica. .
The next total solar eclipse, in August 2026, will occur on the northern fringes of Greenland, Iceland and Spain. Another is expected to sweep across North Africa in 2027.
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North America will not return to its entirety until 2033, but only in Alaska. And this until 2044, when the totality will be confined to western Canada, Montana and North Dakota.
The next big event for the United States will take place in August 2045: it will stretch from northern California to Cape Canaveral, Florida – but it won’t be visible in Illinois.
According to NASA, the next total solar eclipse to be visible in Illinois won’t occur until September 14, 2099.. This eclipse will be visible in northeastern Illinois, including the city of Chicago, as well as parts of Wisconsin, including Madison, Milwaukee and Kenosha.
Why the April 8 solar eclipse was so special
NBC 5 meteorologist Kevin Jeanes called Monday’s total solar eclipse “the largest solar eclipse of our lifetime in the United States.”
The path of totality for Monday’s solar eclipse crossed the United States. It passed through Carbondale, in southern Illinois, again, marking a repeat of 2017. For those in the Chicago area, the near-total eclipse marked the area’s closest to totality in decades. .
“The solar eclipses that are going to happen, for the most part, that will be visible in our area after this one, are not going to be as large as this one,” said Michelle Nichols, director of public viewing at the Adler Planetarium. , told NBC Chicago.
During Monday’s eclipse, the Chicago area saw 94 percent of the sun covered.
“In the next few decades, almost all of them in our region will not be 94 percent covered by the sun,” Nichols said before Monday’s event. “So if you want to see this, this is going to be your last chance for a while.”
The spectacle was particularly emotional for some, including NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Pete Sack.
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Sack, reporting live from Indianapolis, was moved to tears when the eclipse appeared in full.
NBC Chicago posted its wholesome reaction on social media, and a lot of people noticed. Dozens of people shared comments of support, and some revealed they too were overcome with emotion.
“I thought it was awesome,” Facebook user Kim commented. “When you are passionate about the work you do and a momentous opportunity presents itself, you need to let your emotions flow.”
What happens during a total solar eclipse?
During a total solar eclipse, the Moon aligns perfectly between the Earth and the Sun, blocking the sunlight.
On Monday, the total eclipse lasted up to 4 minutes and 28 seconds. That’s twice as long as the total solar eclipse that darkened the American sky in 2017. The duration of totality varies by location.
The Moon’s shadow falling on Earth follows a path 185 kilometers wide.
NBC Chicago
