You still have a chance to get solar eclipse glasses in Chicago
CHICAGO (WLS) -- With an extremely rare solar eclipse coming Monday, many people don't want to be "that person," trying to make viewing plans at the last minute.
Thousands of eclipse glasses were handed out Thursday.
Friday, you can pick up a pair of solar glasses between 12:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at Lagunitas Brewing Company located at 2607 West 17th Street on Chicago's Southwest Side.
The Adler Planetarium said 30,000 more pairs of glasses will be available at the planetarium on Museum Campus Monday, and 10,000 pairs will be given out at Daley Plaza on Monday.
Ambassadors from the Adler Planetarium also handed out free glasses at Daley Plaza in Chicago's Loop starting at 7 a.m. There was a limit of two per person.
Many people got up bright and early and waited in the rain to grab a free pair. The line stretched around the block. The ambassadors had 9,000 glasses to give away. They ran out within the hour.
The Adler ambassadors also gave out free eclipse glasses at South Grant Park, near the large eclipse glasses, at East Roosevelt Road and South Indiana Avenue from 2-8 p.m. Thursday.
They only had 2,800 pairs to give away Thursday afternoon at South Grant Park.
For those who weren't in the city Thursday, the Chicago College of Optometry at Midwestern University in southwest suburban Downers Grove also planned to hand out eclipse glasses. Head to 3450 Lacey Road in Downers Grove to pick up a pair while supplies last.
The eclipse glasses have been flying off shelves in the Chicago area. Stores have had to put up signs turning shoppers away.
Prices have jumped online. Normally the glasses sell for a few dollars per pair. According to WikiBuy, a price-tracker website, eclipse glasses are selling for triple the price. One seller advertised $299 for only three pairs.
Doctors said these glasses will protect people's eyes from any damage watching the solar eclipse.
CHICAGO AREA ASTRONOMERS LOOK FORWARD TO ECLIPSE
It's estimated that up to 7.5 million people will travel to see the Great American Eclipse, and many of them are from the Chicago area. Some have seen over a dozen total eclipses while for others, this will be their first.
"If it's clear, this will be number 14. I've been seeing them since 1972," said Michael Bennett, Chicago Astronomical Society.
"It will be my first total eclipse. And they say you've got to see at least one in your lifetime, and time's getting short," said Jerry Schern, Northwest Suburban Astronomers.
"I've known of the eclipse for a few years, but now that we're getting closer to this I'm getting really excited. I'm having trouble sleeping at night now, just thinking about it, hoping it's not going to be cloudy. I'm really excited to see it," said Charlie Goldberg, 16.
The eclipse will start in Oregon and reach far southern Illinois by around 1:20 p.m. Some of the communities that will experience the approximately 2 minutes and 40 seconds of totality include: Carbondale, Chester and Marion. Amateur astronomers are bringing a variety of telescopes but some are planning to just use their naked eyes.
In our area, the eclipse will reach about 87 percent of totality giving the sky a dusky look.
If you're travelling to see the eclipse you can actually look right at it but around here you must wear protective eyeglasses like these. There will be another total eclipse nearby in just about seven years.
ABC7 Meteorologist Larry Mowry will be in Carbondale, Ill., for the solar eclipse. His live reports start Sunday. ABC News will begin live coverage of the solar eclipse at noon Monday.
