Total Lunar Eclipse Tuesday Morning May Be Hidden by Clouds for Chicago Viewers

Chicago area residents face disappointing weather conditions that could obscure the year’s only total lunar eclipse early Tuesday morning, according to meteorologists.

The eclipse will reach totality just before sunrise on Tuesday, casting the moon’s surface in a dark red hue that would delight stargazers throughout most of the United States. However, cloud cover is expected to increase Monday night and into Tuesday morning, with a chance of rain across the area that will likely block the celestial show for local residents, according to the NBC 5 Storm Team.

A partial eclipse will begin at 3:50 a.m. on Tuesday morning, according to meteorologists. The total eclipse phase, when the moon’s surface will appear dark red, will begin at 5:04 a.m. and peak at 5:33 a.m. Totality will end at 6:02 a.m., with the partial eclipse continuing past 7 a.m. but becoming invisible due to sunrise.

If weather conditions improve, residents would be able to see the moon low in the western sky Tuesday morning. When the moon sits lower on the horizon, it appears bigger, which would make the spectacle even more vivid, according to meteorologists.

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon moves completely into Earth’s shadow, which causes the moon to appear red in color. The phenomenon happens when the Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon, casting its shadow over the moon.

The distinctive red color comes from sunlight shining and refracting through Earth’s atmosphere. The light gets scattered, much like during a sunset, filtering out other colors on the spectrum and leaving a red hue. That light then bounces off the moon back down to Earth for nighttime viewing.

The timing presents additional challenges for Chicago viewers. The partial eclipse will continue past 7 a.m. but won’t be visible in the Chicago area because of sunrise, according to meteorologists.

For residents hoping to catch future lunar eclipses, the wait won’t be too long for a partial event. The next partial lunar eclipse will occur on August 27 at 11 p.m., according to the NBC 5 Storm Team. It will appear slightly red because most of the surface will be covered, though it won’t be a total eclipse.

However, those hoping for another total lunar eclipse will face a much longer wait. If weather spoils Tuesday morning’s show, the next total lunar eclipse visible in the Chicago area won’t occur for another three years, taking place on the night of June 25, 2029, according to meteorologists.

The disappointing forecast comes as astronomy enthusiasts had prepared for what would be a rare opportunity to witness the dramatic transformation of the moon’s appearance. During totality, the moon takes on what astronomers often call a “blood moon” appearance due to the deep red coloring created by Earth’s atmospheric effects.

Tuesday morning’s eclipse represents the year’s only total lunar eclipse, making the potential weather interference particularly frustrating for local stargazers. The early morning timing, combined with the predicted cloud cover and possible precipitation, creates multiple obstacles for viewing the celestial event.

Weather conditions will determine whether Chicago area residents can witness this astronomical phenomenon or will need to wait until 2029 for their next opportunity to see a total lunar eclipse from their location.