When does the eclipse start in Illinois? A city-by-city breakdown of when to look up

The next time we'll have a total solar eclipse in Illinois wont be until Sept. 14, 2099

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Editor's Note: Live coverage of the eclipse from the path of totality begins in the player above starting at 7 a.m. Tune in for live totality starting at 1:55 p.m.

Total solar eclipse day is officially here.

For those who remember 2017, it might not seem like Monday's solar event is all that rare, but according to experts -- it is.

Not only is the path of totality -- where the sun will completely cover the moon for several minutes -- in the U.S., it will track through Carbondale in southern Illinois once again, marking a repeat from 2017. And for those in the Chicago area, the near-total eclipse will mark the closest the area will have to totality in decades.

MORE: Some solar eclipse glasses have been recalled. Here's what to know

"The solar eclipses that are going to occur, for the most part, that are going to be visible in our area after this one will not be to the extent that this one is," Michelle Nichols, director of public observing at the Adler Planetarium, told NBC Chicago. "So we're going to see 94% of the sun covered [in Chicago] and pretty much all of them in the next several decades in our area won't feature the sun covered at 94%. So if you want to see that, this is going to be your last chance for quite a while."

"This might be the most-watched solar eclipse ever," Nichols added.

NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Kevin Jeanes called the event "the greatest solar eclipse across the U.S. in our lifetime."

What is a total solar eclipse?

According to NASA scientists, a total solar eclipse occurs when the new moon intersects the path of the sun in the sky, causing the sun to be partially and then nearly completely blocked from view.

In Carbondale, the largest Illinois city included in the path, totality will commence at approximately 1:59 p.m. Totality is expected to end at approximately 2:03 p.m. as the eclipse follows a diagonal line over Fairfield and exits at Mount Carmel, according to state officials.

If you'll be in the Chicago area that means you won't be able to see the eclipse in totality -- but there is a silver lining: The partial eclipse will be visible for a while longer. For areas outside of the path of totality like Chicago, solar eclipse glasses must be worn.

Here's a city-by-city breakdown of what you can expect and when, according to Time and Date. Check your city here.

Cook County:

Chicago

Partial eclipse begins: 12:51:28

Maximum eclipse: 2:07:41

Partial eclipse ends: 3:22:02

Evanston

Partial eclipse begins: 12:51:38

Maximum eclipse: 2:07:45

Partial eclipse ends: 3:22:00

Orland Park

Partial eclipse begins: 12:50:48

Maximum eclipse: 2:07:10

Partial eclipse ends: 3:21:42

Schaumburg

Partial eclipse begins: 12:51:05

Maximum eclipse: 2:07:10

Partial eclipse ends: 3:21:29

DuPage County:

Aurora

Partial eclipse begins: 12:50:22

Maximum eclipse: 2:06:37

Partial eclipse ends: 3:21:07

Lombard

Partial eclipse begins: 12:50:57

Maximum eclipse: 2:07:09

Partial eclipse ends: 3:21:33

Wheaton

Partial eclipse begins: 12:50:48

Maximum eclipse: 2:07:00

Partial eclipse ends: 3:21:25

DeKalb County:

DeKalb

Partial eclipse begins: 12:50:03

Maximum eclipse: 2:06:09

Partial eclipse ends: 3:20:36

Lake County:

Fox Lake

Partial eclipse begins: 12:51:29

Maximum eclipse: 2:07:20

Partial eclipse ends: 3:21:26

Kendall County:

Plainfield

Partial eclipse begins: 12:50:19

Maximum eclipse: 2:06:39

Partial eclipse ends: 3:21:14

Illinois cities in the path of totality

For those looking to be in the path of totality, here's a list of Illinois cities that fall in that category, according to the Illinois DNR:

Carbondale

Totality begins: 1:59:15

Maximum eclipse: 2:01:20

Totality ends: 2:03:25

 Makanda

Totality begins: 1:59:09

Maximum eclipse: 2:01:14

Totality ends: 2:03:19

 Alto Pass

Totality begins: 1:58:56

Maximum eclipse: 2:01:01

Totality ends: 2:03:06

Fairfield

Totality begins: 2:01:19

Maximum eclipse: 2:03:21

Totality ends: 2:05:23

Olney

Totality begins: 2:02:12

Maximum eclipse: 2:04:07

Totality ends: 2:06:03

 Golconda

Totality begins: 2:00:39

Maximum eclipse: 2:02:04

Totality ends: 2:03:30

 Effingham

Totality begins: 2:03:25

Maximum eclipse: 2:03:49

Totality ends: 2:04:13

 Mt. Vernon

Totality begins: 2:00:35

Maximum eclipse: 2:02:28

Totality ends: 2:04:20

 Marion

Totality begins: 2:01:53

Maximum eclipse: 2:03:54

Totality ends: 2:05:56

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