A solar eclipse will happen this Saturday, and depending on the weather, be viewable from Chicago.
The full “ring of fire” solar eclipse will be viewable only over the western United States.
But in Chicago about 43% of the sun will appear to be covered by the moon, according to the Adler Planetarium. The partial eclipse will occur over the area from 10:37 a.m. to 1:22 p.m., according to the planetarium, with maximum coverage happening at 11:58 a.m.
But rain appears likely to make it hard to see the eclipse. It’s been raining in Chicago Saturday, and the National Weather Service forecasts a strong chance for rain and cloud cover to continue Saturday across the Chicago area.
The planetarium planned to host a free viewing event Saturday but has canceled the outdoor portion due to the rainy weather. The planetarium will hand out free solar viewers, the special glasses to safely view an eclipse. The viewers will be handed out from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., or while supplies last. Anyone can get a pair, even without paying for admission to the planetarium, said Michelle Nichols, Adler’s director of public observing.
WGN meteorologist Tom Skilling, who has just announced he plans to retire in February, is holding a meet-and-greet at the Adler’s Cosmic Cafe from 9:15 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from noon to 1 p.m.
The planetarium will host a live YouTube show about solar eclipses Saturday. “Sky Observers Hangout!” will be livestreamed from 10:15 a.m. to 11 a.m. on the planetarium’s YouTube page. Viewers can learn about the different types of eclipses and how they occur.
A solar eclipse happens when the sun, moon and Earth line up, causing the moon to temporarily block the sun’s light and cast a shadow on Earth. The type of eclipse one can see depends on how a person’s location lines up with the moon’s orbital path across the Earth’s surface.
It’s dangerous to look directly at a solar eclipse without solar viewers. The only safe time to view an eclipse is during the brief moment of “totality,” when the moon completely covers the sun, according to NASA. Saturday’s eclipse will not have totality.
The next total solar eclipse visible in the United States will be April 8, 2024. In Chicago, 94% of the sun will be covered, according to NASA, with totality occurring in southern Illinois.
