Total Lunar Eclipse to Cause Blood Moon Over Iowa This Weekend

The moon is an amazing thing. How something that's nearly 240,000 miles away from us can light our path on clear nights is remarkable. This weekend, we'll get its most beautiful show.

A total lunar eclipse only happens about every 2-and-a-half years, and we'll get to experience a long one this weekend. It will paint the Moon red, creating one of the most beautiful things you'll see at night, a Blood Moon.

The May full moon, known as Flower Moon, is going to reach its peak on Sunday night, May 15 at 11:15 p.m. Iowa time. At that same time, the moon will reach its closes orbit to earth. That makes it a supermoon, providing an extra-special rarity to end the weekend. Then throw in a total lunar eclipse and wow. If clear skies cooperate, you'll see a beautiful sight... a rusty red moon.

According to Almanac, "During a total lunar eclipse, the moon is fully obscured by Earth's shadow, giving the Moon a reddish hue. This phenomenon is where the term "Blood Moon" comes from." That phenomenon is going to last a long time during this particular lunar eclipse.

Here's the timeline for Sunday night here in the Midwest (all times listed are Iowa time/Central Daylight Time), via Almanac:

• 8:31 pm: Penumbral Eclipse Begins. This part of the eclipse is not dramatic. The Moon will move through the outer shadow of the Earth, known as the penumbra.
• 9:27 pm: Partial Eclipse Starts. At this time, the Moon will get into the darkest area of the shadow of Earth, known as the Umbra.
• 10:28 pm: Total Eclipse Begins. It will be an incredible 85 minutes (one hour and 25-minutes) long.
• 11:11 pm: Maximum Eclipse Starts. The eclipse will be at its peak, making it the best time to see it.
• 11:53 pm: Total Eclipse Comes to an End
• Monday, May 16, 12:54 am: Partial Eclipse will end
• Monday, May 16, 1:52 am: Penumbral Eclipse will end

You can see more on this weekend's Blood Moon below. Enjoy the view Sunday night.