What time to look for the total lunar eclipse in Iowa
It’s been a couple years since Iowans had a chance to see this celestial show.
4:00. THESE ARE REALLY NEAT ZANE, AND WE’RE HOPEFUL THAT THE CONDITIONS ARE GOING TO BE CONDUCIVE TO BEING ABLE TO SEE THIS STUFF. THERE’S NOTHING WORSE THAN CLOUDS WHEN YOU ACTUALLY GET SOMETHING COOL, AND THEN IT’S IT’S GRAY. THAT’S HAPPENED SOMETIMES. THE GOOD NEWS IS, RIGHT NOW, WEATHER LOOKS GOOD. OBVIOUSLY WE’RE A COUPLE OF DAYS OUT, BUT YEAH, ONCE WE GET TOWARDS LATE THURSDAY NIGHT INTO THE WEE HOURS OF FRIDAY MORNING, AS LONG AS WE GOT CLEAR SKIES, IT WILL BE A NEAT THING TO SEE. YOU MIGHT HAVE TO SET THE ALARM FOR THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO BE A LATE NIGHT ONE. WE ACTUALLY HAVEN’T HAD A TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE VISIBLE HERE IN IOWA FOR ABOUT TWO AND A HALF YEARS. NOVEMBER OF 2022 WAS THE LAST TIME WE MENTIONED THE TIMES EARLIER. HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL KIND OF SEE. 12:09 A.M. EARLY ON FRIDAY, THE SHADOW OR SHADOW STARTS TO COVER UP THE MOON. WE GET TO THE TOTAL ECLIPSE, THEN STARTING UP. AS MENTIONED JUST BEFORE 130. THAT LASTS FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. WHERE THE MOON IS FULLY RED BECAUSE OF THE LIGHT BENDING AROUND EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE. BECAUSE THE EARTH IS FULLY COVERING IT UP IN SHADOW LASTS BASICALLY UNTIL ABOUT 230, AND THEN YOU’LL WATCH THE SLOWLY THE SHADOW MOVE BACK OVER THE MOON, AND THE MOON’S FULLY BRIGHTENED UP. THEN BEFORE 4 A.M. ON FRIDAY MORNING. SO IF YOU WANT TO SET YOUR ALARM, MAYBE FOR THE JUST THE FULL THE TOTAL ECLIPSE, MAYBE SET IT FOR LIKE 120 OR SOMETHING LIKE THA
What time to look for the total lunar eclipse in Iowa
It’s been a couple years since Iowans had a chance to see this celestial show.
Updated: 11:42 AM CDT Mar 13, 2025
Thursday night’s full moon brings a colorful treat back to Iowa and much of the Western Hemisphere — a total lunar eclipse. For the first time since November 2022, Iowans will be able to see the moon slip fully into Earth’s shadow and turn that eerie red color. The only downside is that you’ll need to be up late for this one.When and where to lookThis event will start with a partial eclipse beginning at 12:09 a.m. Friday morning. Look for the moon in the southeastern sky. Earth’s shadow will slowly cover the lower left portion of the moon.By 1:26 a.m., the moon will be fully obscured, beginning the total eclipse. This is when the moon will take on a reddish hue, thanks to Earth’s atmosphere scattering sunlight and sending colors with longer wavelengths (red and orange) into the shadow. The total eclipse lasts about an hour until 2:31 a.m. After that, Earth’s shadow will slowly disappear, uncovering the moon’s face from upper left to lower right. The moon will appear normal again by 3:47 a.m.Forecast sky conditionsThe forecast currently looks mostly favorable for eclipse viewing. Some high-level cloud cover could drift over Iowa overnight from Thursday into early Friday. High clouds are usually thin, so the moon will likely still be visible — just veiled at times.Our next total lunar eclipse is in March 2026.
DES MOINES, Iowa —Thursday night’s full moon brings a colorful treat back to Iowa and much of the Western Hemisphere — a total lunar eclipse.
For the first time since November 2022, Iowans will be able to see the moon slip fully into Earth’s shadow and turn that eerie red color.
The only downside is that you’ll need to be up late for this one.
When and where to look
This event will start with a partial eclipse beginning at 12:09 a.m. Friday morning. Look for the moon in the southeastern sky.
Earth’s shadow will slowly cover the lower left portion of the moon.
By 1:26 a.m., the moon will be fully obscured, beginning the total eclipse.
This is when the moon will take on a reddish hue, thanks to Earth’s atmosphere scattering sunlight and sending colors with longer wavelengths (red and orange) into the shadow.
The total eclipse lasts about an hour until 2:31 a.m.
After that, Earth’s shadow will slowly disappear, uncovering the moon’s face from upper left to lower right.
The moon will appear normal again by 3:47 a.m.
Forecast sky conditions
The forecast currently looks mostly favorable for eclipse viewing.
Some high-level cloud cover could drift over Iowa overnight from Thursday into early Friday. High clouds are usually thin, so the moon will likely still be visible — just veiled at times.
Our next total lunar eclipse is in March 2026.
