The Museum will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. Weekend Hours

This is a past event.

The next great American total solar eclipse will cross our paths on April 8!

Chicago will get a partial viewing of this amazing scientific spectacle. Join us at the Museum to celebrate science in action with activities inside and out. Check out the eclipse up close with telescopic viewing of the Moon crossing the Sun's path through our solar telescopes, watch a NASA livestream with the Museum's own NASA Solar System Ambassador, or take part in family- and student-friendly hands-on activities.

Can't make it to the Museum on a Monday? That's ok—an eclipse is science you can do anywhere! Find us at our satellite locations: Millennium Park, the Michigan Avenue bridge, North Avenue Beach [UPDATED], or the DuSable Museum.

Eclipse timeline (times CT)
10 a.m. Eclipse activities begin at Griffin MSI
12:51 p.m.: Partial eclipse begins 
2:07 p.m.: Peak coverage for Chicago 
3:22 p.m.: Partial eclipse ends 

Bringing a group? We've got room! Book your tour group or field trip today.

This event is included in Museum Entry. In case of cloudy weather, telescope viewing outdoors will not be available. However, a livestream of the total eclipse from southern Illinois will continue in the Giant Dome Theater. 

A crowd of visitors sit on the steps of the Museum to watch the 2017 solar eclipse