Don’t miss it: on the afternoon of April 8, a total solar eclipse will cross the country. Some experts describe the phenomenon as “the largest solar eclipse of our lifetime in the United States.”
According to NASA, the eclipse will begin around 1 p.m. CT. The moon’s shadow will begin to move slowly, across Texas, Arkansas, then southeast Missouri, southern Illinois and down to Indianapolis. From there, it will cross Ohio and head northeast, with 13 states in total appearing in the path of totality of the eclipse.
Places in the path of totality, like Carbondale — which was also in the path of totality during the 2017 eclipse — will see the moon completely cover the sun for a short time.
In Chicago, about 94 or 95 percent of the eclipse will be visible.
MORE: 3 Things Experts Say Not to Do During the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse
“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. “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.”
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. However, as the region is not in the path of totality of the eclipse, glasses will be required at all times to observe it safely.
Interactive Solar Eclipse Map 2024: Find out where and when the eclipse will occur over Illinois
“You have to have Chicago glasses, or you can make a pinhole box to see it,” Jeanes said. “That’s because it’s not safe to look from a vantage point outside the path of totality. We can’t look at the sun when it’s not a total eclipse.”
How to know if your solar eclipse glasses are working
According to the Adler Planetarium, observing the solar eclipse without proper glasses can lead to irreversible eye damage within seconds, and since your eyes don’t have the nerve endings needed to register the pain when it happens, it will be too late when you find out.
Ordinary sunglasses, even dark ones, are not safe to view the eclipse.
Aside from eclipse glasses, the following options outlined by the Illinois Department of Transportation also provide a safe way to view the event.
- Solar filters: If you want to use a telescope, binoculars or camera, do not use them without protection even if you have secure anti-eclipse glasses. Consult the manufacturer for the correct filter to attach to your device.
- Pinhole viewer: This is a simple and inexpensive way to view the eclipse indirectly. Simply take two sheets of white paper (cardstock is best) and punch a hole in the middle of one sheet. With your back to the sun, hold the sheet with the hole on the other sheet and adjust it until you see a point of light. It’s the sun! When the moon passes through the sun, a crescent appears.
Given the risk of irreversible eye damage from viewing the eclipse without protection, it is essential to ensure that the solar eclipse glasses used are not counterfeit.
But there’s no real way to tell real glasses from fakes just by looking at them.
“The glasses, if they are counterfeit, may appear to be in good condition, because they may be dark enough that you can make it look like it is safe to look at the sun. But what you don’t know , is that they allow ultraviolet and infrared light to pass through. That’s the thing that worries me the most,” said Michelle Nichols, director of public observation at the Adler Planetarium.
Detecting fact from fiction becomes even more difficult when companies tout unproven or inaccurate security claims.
“Just be careful and don’t assume just because it says safety glasses that they actually are because anyone can write it,” she said.
If you’re still wondering how to know if your glasses will offer you the right protection, here’s a tip, according to experts:
“When you wear glasses, you shouldn’t see anything,” Dr. Nina Goyal, an ophthalmologist at Rush University Medical Center, told NBC Chicago. “It’s a flexible resin with carbon particles infused in it, the only thing you should see.” I can see through these the orange glow of the sun. Do not use sunglasses, layer sunglasses, or use smoked glass. »
Where to find approved solar eclipse glasses
Experts suggest purchasing solar eclipse glasses from vendors deemed “safe” by the American Astronomical Society.
The company’s listing offers links to “selected providers of solar viewers and filters that you can be sure are safe when used properly.”
“These include companies and organizations with which members of the AAS Solar Eclipse Working Group have had good experience as well as other companies and organizations that have demonstrated to our satisfaction that the products they sell meet the safety requirements of ISO 12312-2. international standard,” the listing says.
The company specifies, however, that its list is not exhaustive, and that glasses not listed on the site could still be safe. They don’t recommend using Amazon, eBay, Temu or other online marketplaces to find the cheapest options.
“Before purchasing a solar viewer or filter online, we recommend that you ensure that (1) the seller is identified on the site and (2) the seller is listed on this page,” the company says.
Here are the main takeaways for finding legitimate eclipse glasses:
- When purchasing eclipse glasses, look for an approved manufacturer on the astronomical society’s website and make sure the ISO numbers 1-2-3-1-2-2 are printed on the inside of the glasses.
- You can find the list of safe solar viewer and filter providers here.
- If you still have your glasses from the 2017 eclipse, you may be able to reuse them. But that’s only if they aren’t bent, torn or scratched.
Some museums and stores are offering free solar eclipse glasses and viewers while supplies last:
Parker Warby
The online and physical eyewear store will offer free solar eclipse glasses at all Warby Parker stores while supplies last.
According to Warby Parker, limited edition ISO certified solar eclipse glasses will be available in all stores starting Monday. Families are limited to two pairs, Warby Parker said.
“Our Customer Experience team will not be able to answer specific questions about stock levels of solar eclipse glasses in our stores, and we cannot guarantee that they will be available by the time you arrive,” said the eyeglasses store. “If we are short of solar eclipse glasses when you arrive, we can provide you with a pinhole projector for the eclipse. With this projector, you will be able to observe the solar eclipse safely through a projection,” said added the store. .
The glasses will be offered until April 8.
Adler Planetarium
During the Planetarium’s free outdoor event “Eclipse Encounter ’24,” staff will host a variety of free outdoor activities, a message from the Planetarium states. The event will also feature “free solar viewer giveaways” while supplies last.
MyEyeDr.
Eye health service provider MyEyeDr. will distribute free, expert-approved solar eclipse glasses at more than 400 locations across 20 states while supplies last, a spokesperson said.
Here’s where you can find a location near you.
How to Create a Pinhole Box to View the Eclipse
If you don’t have glasses, one option is to create a pinhole image, Nichols said.
“There are indirect ways to see the eclipse,” she said. “You can make a pinhole projector and that means taking an index card, a piece of foil, something that you can make a little hole in, align that hole with the sun and project an image of that onto the ground. sol. And it’s a way to indirectly view an image of the eclipse.
Just don’t look directly through the hole, she said, adding that “that would be like putting a focused image of the sun on your eyeball and you don’t want to do that.”
Can you use your phone or binoculars?
According to Nichols, using your phone to capture the solar eclipse could also be damaging.
“Don’t just point your phone at the sun, because you might fry your phone’s camera, so don’t do that either,” she said.
She noted, however, that some companies are making filters or covers for phone camera lenses to safely capture a solar eclipse.
NASA said spectators should not use solar glasses when trying to view the eclipse through the lens of a phone or camera.
“Do NOT look at the Sun through a camera lens, telescope, binoculars or other optical device when wearing eclipse glasses or using a handheld solar viewer – concentrated solar rays will burn through the filter and will cause serious eye injury,” the agency said. said.
However, those who use an appropriate filter on their phone or camera lens should be able to view the eclipse safely using these devices.
“When viewing a partial or annular eclipse using cameras, binoculars, or telescopes equipped with appropriate solar filters, you do not need to wear eclipse glasses. (Solar filters do the same job as solar filters). eclipse glasses to protect your eyes)” NASA reported. .
NBC Chicago
