What will the solar eclipse be like in the Chicago area?

By Product Expert | Posted in Community on Tuesday, August 8th, 2017 at 7:01 pm
2017 Solar Eclipse Time and Magnitude Glendale Heights IL

2017 Solar Eclipse Time and Magnitude Glendale Heights IL

As the date of the 2017 solar eclipse, called the Great American Solar Eclipse, draws closer, more and more people are becoming interested in the event. That’s because it has been 99 years since an eclipse has crossed the contiguous United States, and not a single state has seen a total eclipse since 1991 (only Hawaiians saw that one). This year, a band of darkness will sweep from Oregon down to South Carolina. If you know geography, you know that band is not arching close enough to our location to include us in the full eclipse, what with will the magnitude be like for Glendale Heights, IL residents, and what is the best time to look?

Path of totality lasts just ~2 minutes

A solar eclipse takes hours to pass, with this year’s event starting at 11:52 a.m. for the Glendale Heights area. It will last a total of 2 hours and 48 minutes, but the maximum coverage will be at 1:20 p.m. Remember, the path of totality (when the view of the sun is completely blocked by the moon) lasts roughly 2 minutes, and we won’t be seeing full coverage. Rather, we can expect about 87% coverage, or a magnitude of 0.8928.

If you do want to see the full solar eclipse, the closest location will be just south of St. Louis, Missouri.


Read More: 2017 Summer Farmer’s Markets in Glendale Heights IL


In just seven years, we’ll have a second chance to view a solar eclipse, but this time on April 8, 2024. Coverage for us will be at 93%, with a journey down to Indianapolis proving your best bet if you’re determined to see the real deal.

Don’t forget, that even with the sunlight mostly blocked by the moon, it’s still dangerous to stare directly at a solar eclipse. You’ll want to buy solar eclipse glasses ahead of time, and there have been reports of fake ones being sold, so choose carefully.

Are you excited for the 2017 solar eclipse? Share your thoughts with a comment here at the Glendale Nissan Blog.

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