Eclipses Across Illinois

Eclipse obsessed? Catch two solar eclipses with the Adler Planetarium.

It’s not every day that you get to see a solar eclipse from your backyard. The stars (well, one star, a planet, and a moon) are lining up to give us the opportunity to see two solar eclipses, six months apart! On October 14, 2023, and April 8, 2024, solar eclipses will be visible across North America, including here in Illinois. Learn how you can celebrate the Sun with us in the coming year at the museum and wherever you are! Let’s get equipped to eclipse.

Tell Me More About The Upcoming Solar Eclipses

A solar eclipse occurs when the Sun, the Moon, and Earth line up, and the Moon (which is between the Sun and Earth) temporarily blocks the Sun’s light. The kind of eclipse you see from your location depends on the Moon’s orbital path across Earth’s surface and how far away the Moon is from Earth and from the Sun.

There are three different types of solar eclipses: partial, total, and annular. A partial solar eclipse is when the Moon partly covers the Sun—it usually looks like a bite has been taken out of it! A total solar eclipse is when the Moon totally covers the Sun. An annular solar eclipse happens when the Moon appears a little smaller in the sky than the Sun, so it cannot fully block the Sun’s rays. During an annular eclipse, you’ll see a bright ring around the edges of the Moon with the Sun peeking out from behind it.

The solar eclipse on October 14, 2023, will be either an annular or partial solar eclipse depending on your location. The April 8, 2024, solar eclipse will either be a total or partial solar eclipse depending on your location. Learn what type of eclipse you’ll be able to see (if it isn’t cloudy, of course!).

How To Safely View Solar Eclipses

You must always use proper solar viewing equipment when looking up at any type of solar eclipse. Regular sunglasses are NOT safe for viewing an eclipse, and irreversible eye damage can occur in seconds.

Certified solar viewing glasses or viewers are the best way to protect your eyes so you can look up during an eclipse! Check back soon to learn where you can buy certified solar eclipse glasses or viewers.

If you can’t get your hands on a solar viewer or pair of solar glasses, make a pinhole projector to see the eclipse!

Astro Road Trip (May 15–May 19)

We’re packing up our solar observing telescopes, putting gas in the Adler van, and heading down to Southern Illinois this May!

During Astro Road Trip, our astronomy educators will visit libraries, schools, restaurants, and science centers where you can participate in hands-on astronomy activities and (weather permitting) look up at the Sun through our specialized solar-filtered telescopes.