On April 8, the moon’s shadow will sweep over southern Illinois and barely miss Chicago as it eclipses the sun. The next time a solar eclipse will be seen from the contiguous United States is 2044.
But the city will still experience a partial eclipse that day between 12:51 and 3:22 p.m. At precisely 2:07 p.m., the moon will cover up to 94% of the sun seen from the area.
Across the Chicago area, there are plenty of ways that children, families and enthusiasts can prepare for the big day — from informational programming to workshops for assembling pinhole projectors to giveaways of solar eclipse viewing glasses.
The lead-up
Some public libraries in the Chicago suburbs will give out free glasses through the STAR Library Network managed by the Space Science Institute. A map with participating locations can be found at scigames.org/eclipse/map in the Solar Eclipse Activities for Libraries website.
In the city, some Chicago Public Library branches will also give out viewing glasses as part of their programming. Other branches will help patrons make their own solar eclipse viewers and pinhole projectors, which allow sunlight to pass through holes on a cardboard box, index card or pasta colander to project the sun’s crescent shape in a grid pattern as the moon covers it.
The North Pulaski branch at 4300 W. North Ave. will host a family story time from 11 a.m. to noon on March 25 and then again on April 1. Solar eclipse viewers will be distributed at both events as well. There will be a bilingual workshop on April 1 for kids 4 and up to assemble solar glasses at the Gage Park branch, 2807 W. 55th St.
On April 2, children 6 and up will be able to make pinhole projectors with cereal boxes at the Edgewater branch, 6000 N. Broadway. On April 4, the Lozano branch at 1805 S. Loomis St. will have a preparation event in English and Spanish for visitors of all ages to learn about solar eclipses and the tools used to observe them.
Children 7 and up can build box viewers at the West Town location, 1625 W. Chicago Ave., two days before the eclipse on April 6. Find more eclipse-related programming at public libraries in Chicago on the events page at chipublib.bibliocommons.com/v2/events.
Eclipse day
The Adler Planetarium will have a nonticketed, free viewing event on the Chicago campus April 8 from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Depending on the weather, telescopes will be made available outside and staff will give out a limited stock of free solar viewers. Purchasing museum entry will also allow visitors to participate in indoor eclipse activities and experiences.
The Chicago Public Library’s Legler Regional branch at 115 S. Pulaski Road and the Altgeld branch at 955 E. 131st St. will have eclipse viewing parties April 8 when they will give out special glasses courtesy of Adler.
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