The partial phase will run from 9:34 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27, through 12:52 a.m. Friday. Current forecasts call for clear or mostly clear skies across five Midwest cities.
Updated Aug. 26, 2026.
By Hola America News
MIDWEST — Earth’s shadow will cover 96.3% of the Moon during a deep partial lunar eclipse Thursday night, Aug. 27. Chicago, Minneapolis, Des Moines, Omaha and the Quad Cities are forecast to have favorable viewing conditions.
The partial phase will begin at 9:34 p.m. Central Daylight Time. Earth’s dark central shadow, called the umbra, will then move across most of the lunar disk.
The eclipse will reach maximum coverage at 11:13 p.m. At that point, 96.3% of the Moon’s disk will be inside the umbra, according to NASA.
A narrow section will remain outside the umbra and appear much brighter. Therefore, the eclipse will remain partial even though it may closely resemble a total lunar eclipse near maximum.
The partial eclipse begins at 9:34 p.m. Central Time
The eclipse phases occur at the same moment worldwide. Because Chicago, Minneapolis, Des Moines, Omaha and the Quad Cities all use Central Daylight Time, they share the same schedule.
| Eclipse phase | Local time |
|---|---|
| Penumbral eclipse begins | 8:24 p.m. Thursday |
| Partial eclipse begins | 9:34 p.m. Thursday |
| Maximum eclipse | 11:13 p.m. Thursday |
| Partial eclipse ends | 12:52 a.m. Friday |
| Penumbral eclipse ends | 2:02 a.m. Friday |
The early penumbral phase may be difficult to notice because Earth’s outer shadow causes only a subtle dimming. The eclipse will become much more apparent after 9:34 p.m., when the Moon begins entering the darker umbra.
The event follows the Perseid meteor shower’s annual peak over Iowa and the Quad Cities earlier in August.
A narrow bright edge will remain at maximum eclipse
NASA’s 96.3% figure refers to the area of the lunar disk located inside Earth’s umbra. It is different from the eclipse magnitude of about 0.930, which measures the portion of the Moon’s diameter covered by the umbra.
The remaining edge will stay outside the umbra. It will receive some sunlight through the lighter penumbral shadow and appear much brighter than the rest of the Moon.
Meanwhile, the shadowed section may develop rusty, orange or copper colors. Sunlight passing through Earth’s atmosphere reaches the Moon after much of its blue light has been filtered out.
The Moon may not display one uniform color. Atmospheric conditions around Earth can affect the brightness and color of the shadowed surface.
The lunar eclipse is safe to watch without special glasses
A lunar eclipse does not pose the eye-safety risk associated with a solar eclipse. Viewers can watch every phase without eclipse glasses or solar filters.
A telescope is also unnecessary. However, binoculars or a small telescope can provide a closer view of Earth’s curved shadow crossing the lunar surface.
Outdoor lighting can reduce contrast, especially during the early penumbral phase. A location with less artificial light and an open view of the sky will make the gradual color and brightness changes easier to see.
Clear or mostly clear skies are forecast across all five cities
National Weather Service forecasts issued Wednesday indicate favorable viewing conditions across the five cities. Although the overnight forecasts can still change, no widespread cloud layer or rainfall is currently expected during the main eclipse.
| Location | Forecast | Overnight low |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | Mostly clear | Around 64°F |
| Minneapolis | Clear or mostly clear | Around 55°F |
| Des Moines | Mostly clear | Around 64°F |
| Omaha | Mostly clear | Around 63°F |
| Quad Cities | Clear | Around 59°F |
Clouds could still pass over an individual viewing location. The linked National Weather Service forecasts provide the latest local conditions before the eclipse begins.
NASA’s official visualization of the Aug. 27–28 lunar eclipse shows the Moon’s path through the penumbra and umbra, along with a global visibility map.
The visible partial phase begins at 9:34 p.m. Thursday, reaches maximum coverage at 11:13 p.m. and ends at 12:52 a.m. Friday, Central Daylight Time.
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