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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Although this Hybrid Solar eclipse won't be visible in Chicago, I wonder about something...

I wonder if one could observe the new Moon directly in close proximity to the Sun. It should be skirting the solar disk at some point and if one would train a scope and focus in on it, could we not observe a silhouetted disk in the intense overwhelming glare?

Hmmm...

[Centaur]

A silhouette would not be evident. The glare is an atmospheric and physiological effect; the Moon is beyond the atmosphere and your eyes. However, earthshine on the Moon is most intense around the time of conjunction with the Sun. But I'd be surprised it you could see that. I wouldn't try looking since you could seriously damage your eye if you slipped a bit and caught a glimpse of the Sun.

As viewed from the Adler Planetarium, the least angular separation between the centers of the Moon and Sun on April 8 will be 0.56 degrees at 17:16 CDT. The separation between the nearest points of their limbs will only be 0.03 degrees.

In any event, the theoretical Danjon Limit for spotting a crescent Moon is 7 degrees elongation from the Sun. The naked-eye record is 9.1 degrees. The verified record with optical aid is 7.5 degrees. That was with binoculars. An uncertain record with a telescope is 6.5 degrees. In that case the observers only think they might have seen the Moon. These considerations are what place a limit on New Moon spotting.