Illinois solar eclipse 2024: What time is the eclipse on April 8?

The day we've all been waiting for is finally here: Solar eclipse 2024.

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions ahead of the eclipse.

What time is the eclipse on April 8?

The total eclipse enters the U.S. just after 01:27 p.m. central time April 8 at a point in Eagle Pass, Texas, reports eclipse2024.org.  The eclipse will end in Maine at 3:35 p.m. eastern time. Even if you're not in the path of totality and won't see the full eclipse, you may still see a percentage of it.

What time is the eclipse in Illinois?

A partial phase of the eclipse will begin in southern Illinois just before 12:42 p.m. near East Cape Girardeau, where totality will enter the state after 1:58 p.m. and last about 4 minutes. Totality will exit Illinois after 2:07 p.m. near Palestine. For a list of all communities in the path of totality, visit eclipse2024.org.

What time is the eclipse in my area?

The start time of the eclipse and the peak of the eclipse will differ depending on where you are in the United States. USA TODAY has a tool that shows you how the eclipse might look in major cities and, if you enter your zip code, it shows the start time of the partial eclipse, the length of totality and the end.

2024 solar eclipse time:What time is the total solar eclipse on April 8? Search your ZIP code for a viewing guide

What is the best place to see the eclipse in Illinois?

The path of totality is the best place to see the eclipse, whether you're in Illinois or other states within the path.

The largest Illinois city in the path of totality is Carbondale. Other cities in the path include Effingham, Marion and Mount Vernon. A full list of Illinois communities in the path of totality for the 2024 eclipse is available at eclipse2024.org. In addition, 31 state parks and sites managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources are in the eclipse’s path of totality.

Best place to see the eclipse:What to know about the April 8 eclipse in Illinois

When was the last solar eclipse?

The last solar eclipse in the United States was in August 2017. Southern Illinois was in the path of totality in 2017 as well.

When is the next solar eclipse in Illinois?

The next total eclipse in the U.S. won’t happen until March 30, 2033, according to Time Magazine, and will be visible in Alaska. The next solar eclipse visible in the contiguous U.S. will be Aug. 23, 2044, according to NASA. The next total solar eclipse that will be visible in Illinois won’t occur until Sept. 14, 2099, NASA says.

Illinois solar eclipse 2024:Here's a traveler's guide with warnings and advice

USA TODAY contributed to this report.