What time is the eclipse today in Illinois? And how to watch solar eclipse 2024

The solar eclipse is upon us.

As the day progresses and the 2024 celestial event crosses into Illinois, the Journal Star will provide coverage from the path of totality — where the effect is greatest — to the partial eclipse seen elsewhere in the state and the country.

But first, some basics:

What to know about the eclipse

During a total solar eclipse, the moon appears the same size as the sun and blocks the latter. The daytime darkness will last a few minutes within the path of totality — where the effect of the eclipse is greatest. Within the U.S., the eclipse path will stretch from Texas to Maine and includes, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, among others. Only certain parts of those states will be within the path of totality.

Other parts of those states and the rest of the country will experience a partial eclipse.

Solar eclipse 2024 warning: Drivers beware of unusual conditions April 8 in Illinois

What time is the eclipse on Monday?

The total eclipse enters the U.S. just after 01:27 p.m. central time April 8 at a point in Eagle Pass, Texas, according to eclipse2024.org. The eclipse will end in Maine at 3:35 p.m. eastern time. Even if you're not in the path of totality, you may still experience the eclipse to a lesser degree.

How to watch solar eclipse

Many people are traveling to the path of totality to see the total solar eclipse in Illinois or somewhere in the United States. Others will enjoy a partial eclipse outdoors. If you'd like to watch indoors, you also have options.

NASA will stream coverage of the solar eclipse on its various social channels, including an official broadcast and a telescope feed on YouTube.

Illinois solar eclipse 2024: Here's a traveler's guide with warnings and advice

Eclipse time by zip code

USA TODAY has an interactive graphic that shows you how the eclipse might look in major cities and, if you enter your zip code, it shows the start time of the partial eclipse, the length of totality and the end.

What time is the total solar eclipse? Search your ZIP code for a viewing guide

When does the eclipse start in Illinois?

A partial phase of the eclipse will begin in southern Illinois just before 12:42 p.m. near East Cape Girardeau, where totality will enter the state after 1:58 p.m. and last about 4 minutes. Totality will exit Illinois after 2:07 p.m. near Palestine. For a list of all communities in the path of totality, visit eclipse2024.org.

What will the weather be for Monday's solar eclipse in Illinois?

Monday's weather forecast is a dose of great news for Illinoisans hoping to see the solar eclipse on Monday.

The National Weather Service in Lincoln, Ill. tweeted Monday that most of Illinois will have favorable viewing conditions, adding that only thin, high clouds are expected in the path of totality.

NASA teams, 50,000 people in Carbondale for solar eclipse

CARBONDALE – SIU-Carbondale officials were joined by teams from NASA and Chicago's Adler Planetarium for a 7 a.m. news conference Monday ahead of the eclipse.

They expect 200,000 to 300,000 people to flood the region today for viewing of the totality, with a projected 50,000 in Carbondale – roughly double the town's population.

Michelle Nichols, director of public observing at Adler Planetarium, will co-host an eclipse show in Saluki Stadium.

"Thousands of people are here today to see this eclipse, feel the temperature drop, and feel the overall excitement and hear the reactions of everyone around them," she said. "This is a multi-sensory experience involving the sun, the moon, and you.

"It involves one single action: Looking up."

NASA is sending up a pair of balloons and deploying some aircraft at high altitude to study the corona during totality.

-Dave Eminian, Peoria Journal Star

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Illinois solar eclipse 2024: What to know about the eclipse