NOTE: Live coverage of the eclipse begins in the player above starting at 7 a.m. on April 8, but tune in for live totality starting at 1:55 p.m.
No matter where you are, you'll be able to watch the 2024 total solar eclipse live.
And if you're not in the path of totality, you can still experience the incredible sight.
While the city of Chicago will likely reach an eclipse totality mark of 94%, parts of southern Illinois and central Indiana will experience 100% totality.
Whether virtual or live, there are plenty of ways to watch it all happen.
Here's a look at how you can watch the once-in-a-lifetime event:
Streaming coverage
Watch non-stop, expert coverage of the rare astronomical phenomenon on the NBC Chicago News 24/7 live streaming channel, NBC 5 News, Noticiero Telemundo Chicago and across social platforms.
Watch live in the player above or find more details on how to stream live here.
You can also watch on:
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- NBCChicago.com –NBCChicago.com/WatchNow
- NBC Chicago app – NBC Chicago app
- NBC Chicago “YouTube” channel – NBC Chicago - YouTube
Here's the full streaming schedule:
8-11 a.m. -- Solar Eclipse “Live Look” Updates
Live look at the sky and top-of-hour hits from NBC 5 Chicago and Telemundo Chicago’s weather experts with the latest updates.
11 a.m. - 12 p.m. -- NBC 5 News / Noticiero Telemundo Chicago: Eclipse Special Editions
NBC 5 News and Noticiero Telemundo Chicago will provide extensive eclipse lead-up coverage featuring live on-site reports from Carbondale, Illinois, Indianapolis, Indiana and in downtown Chicago.
12-2 p.m. -- Solar Eclipse “Live Look” Updates
Live look at the sky and top-of-hour hits from NBC 5 Chicago and Telemundo Chicago’s weather experts with the latest updates.
1:55 - 2:30 p.m. -- Special Presentation: “Solar Eclipse 2024”
Live coverage from Carbondale, Illinois, and Indianapolis, Indiana, will provide viewers with views of the eclipse from the path of totality.
There will also be live coverage from downtown Chicago.
In addition to the above streaming options, NASA will also offer a live broadcast of the eclipse from 12-3 p.m.
On Television
1- 3 p.m. (on NBC 5 Chicago) – NBC News Special: Total Eclipse 2024
Beginning at 1 p.m. on NBC Chicago, Lester Holt will anchor a two-hour NBC News Special: Total Eclipse 2024 live from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the world’s largest viewing site of the 2024 eclipse.
In addition, from 1-3 p.m., Telemundo Chicago will carry Noticias Telemundo: Eclipse Solar Cobertura Especial, featuring live reports from a number of local Telemundo stations around the country.
In Person
In Carbondale, the largest Illinois city included in the eclipse's path, totality will commence at approximately 1:59 p.m.
Assuming there are clear skies (check the latest forecast here), stargazers there will be able to look at the eclipse without any aid whatsoever, with darkened skies and the famed “corona” blazing around the edges of the moon.
This period will last just a few minutes. Totality is expected to end at approximately 2:03 p.m. as the eclipse follows a diagonal line over Fairfeld and exits at Mount Carmel, according to state officials.
If you'll be in the Chicago area and won't be able to see the eclipse in totality, there is a silver lining. The partial eclipse will be visible for a while longer.
For areas outside of the path of totality, it will not be safe to view the eclipse without special eclipse glasses or other tools.Here's a city-by-city breakdown of what to expect and when.
