How to View Next Week’s ‘Blood Moon’ Eclipse in Iowa

Here's hoping for clear skies next week, as a total lunar eclipse will give Iowans a rare view of a 'blood moon'. Only around 2% of the world's population will be able to witness the event!

When Will the Lunar Eclipse Occur?

The total lunar eclipse will happen in the early morning hours of Tuesday, March 3rd. USA Today reports that it will last a total of one hour, and during that time, the moon will change to a deep shade of red. The next visible lunar eclipse won't be visible in the United States until 2029.

Where Will the 'Blood Moon' Be Most Visible?

USA Today reports that the lunar eclipse will be visible to North America, parts of South America, East Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific. Residents living in the Western United States will be able to view the lunar eclipse's peak. Here is a breakdown of when your best chance of viewing the lunar eclipse will be.

According to the map, Iowans will have about an hour, between 5 and 6 am on Tuesday, to view the 'blood moon'.

Residents on the East Coast Could See Something Even Rarer! 

Residents living on the East Coast could see something even rarer on Tuesday morning. It is called a 'Selenelion'. That happens when the eclipsed moon and the sun are both visible in the sky at the same time, right before sunrise!

Now the weather has to cooperate for any of this to be visible at all. KCRG TV-9 is forecasting cloudy skies Monday night into Tuesday morning with a chance of rain and snow.