Solar Eclipse 2017 Across Illinois: Watch It Again

CARBONDALE, IL — For the first time in nearly a century, a total solar eclipse was visible across North America, with prime viewing spots right here in Illinois. The once-in-a-lifetime event took place on Monday, Aug. 21. Southern Illinois had a front-row seat, so to speak, to the event.

"Only the southernmost section of Illinois enjoys totality, but this state has bragging rights for the longest duration of the total solar eclipse along the entire path," according to TheGreatAmericanEclipse.com. In addition to the Aug. 21 eclipse, Carbondale will also be along the center line for another total solar eclipse on April 4, 2024.

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The eclipse began in Illinois at around 11:52 a.m. and will end at around 2:47 p.m. The total eclipse viewing corridor stretched across 14 states, according to NASA. The first sighting in the U.S. on Aug. 21 was in Lincoln Beach, Oregon, at 9:05 a.m. PDT (12:05 p.m. EST), and was last seen in Charleston, South Carolina, at 4:05 p.m.

WATCH AGAIN - Patch's Facebook Live stream from Festus, MO, near the Southern Illinois/Missouri border in the path of totality:

Illinois viewing spots

Carbondale saw the total eclipse for two minutes and 35 seconds, and nearby Marion got two minutes and 28 seconds. "If you want to experience the very longest eclipse duration, you can’t go wrong at any spot on the centerline of eclipse near Carbondale. Just don’t forget to drive east or west if clouds threaten to eclipse totality," the Great American Eclipse website warned.

Watch Patch's broadcast from the solar eclipse party at 63rd Street Beach on South Side of Chicago:

Illinois viewing spots:

• Southern Illinois University in Carbondale will host Eclipse Day at Saluki Stadium; tickets are $25 per person, and a limited number of discounted tickets for $5 per person will be sold to school groups. Adler Planetarium of Chicago and the Louisiana Space Consortium will host on-campus events on Aug. 21, including a public viewing at the football stadium, indoor viewing, talks and presentations. Meanwhile, Carbondale's entire downtown section will transform into the Shadow Fest music festival starting on Aug. 19.
• The totality of the eclipse will last the longest (two minutes, 40 seconds) at Giant City State Park in Makanda. The park's next-door neighbor, Blue Sky Vineyard, will host four days of events leading up to the eclipse. Reservations are not needed to watch the eclipse at the winery (it's first come, first served), but reservations are still being accepted for anyone who wants to camp out in their RV.
• Naper Settlement in Naperville will host a Solar Eclipse Viewing Picnic from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 21. Guests are invited to "bring your lunch and your eclipse viewing glasses, listen to celestial legends, and experience this rare event in a prime spot on the main green." Admission is free for Naperville residents and members and $5 per person for non-residents/members. Complimentary viewing glasses will be available.
• Southern Illinois Miners Eclipse Viewing: A watch party with family events is slated for Rent One Park in Marion.
• In Waterloo, the Monroe County Fairgrounds will host a "Solarbration."
• The City of Chester will host multiple eclipse viewing events.
• Joliet Junior College in Joliet is hosting a viewing event.
• White Oak Library in Romeoville will host a viewing party.

You can also use this interactive Google map to find the spot of the longest eclipse.

An interactive map with additional events throughout the U.S. is here.

NASA live stream

NASA provided views of the eclipse by 11 spacecraft, at least three NASA aircraft and potentially astronauts aboard the International Space Station. NASA Television’s four-hour live broadcast, "Eclipse Across America: Through the Eyes of NASA" began at 11 a.m. Central time.

In addition to the NASA TV broadcast, video streams from locations across the country were available at: https://www.nasa.gov/eclipselive

Social media

The 2017 solar eclipse is shaping up to be one of the biggest science events of the digital era. NASA will provide social media updates via the agency’s flagship accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Snapchat, Google+, and LinkedIn.

NASA provided live streaming coverage during the eclipse via the NASA App and on the following social media streaming sites:

• Facebook Live -- https://www.facebook.com/NASA/videos/10155497958441772/
• Twitter/Periscope -- https://www.pscp.tv/nasa
• Twitch TV -- https://twitch.tv/nasa
• Ustream -- http://www.ustream.tv/nasahdtv
• YouTube -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwMDvPCGeE0

Watch this NASA video illustrating how an eclipse works:

Watch: Eclipse time lapse

Kimberly Johnson (Patch Staff) and Deb Belt (Patch National Staff) contributed to this article

Photos: Eclipse-watchers gather near the Illinois/Missouri border at West City Park in Festus, MO. (Jonah Meadows/Patch staff.)