On Monday, April 8, 2024, some 31 million people living in a 100+ mile wide path, stretching from Texas to Maine, will be able to witness a rare, total solar eclipse. People in the 48 contiguous States will be able to see at least a partial eclipse. The “path of totality” will pass through our State; much of Southern Illinois will be able to experience a total eclipse.
In Illinois, at 2:07 p.m., 94% of the sun will be covered by the moon.
Remember this. Looking directly at the sun is unsafe–even for a few seconds!
NASA recommends wearing eclipse solar viewers with an IOS compliance label, or standard, of 12312-2. Sunglasses will not protect your vision.
Exposing your eyes to the sun without proper eye protection during a solar eclipse can cause “eclipse blindness” or retinal burns, also known as “solar retinopathy.” This exposure to sunlight can cause damage or even destroy cells in the retina, (the back of the eye) that transmit what you see to the brain.
