Des Moines, Iowa – Iowans should mark March 3 now, when a rare 58-minute Blood Moon will unfold from 5:04 to 6:03 a.m. Central Time, delivering the state’s last visible total lunar eclipse until 2028.
According to NASA eclipse timing data, totality begins at 5:04 a.m. CT on March 3 and peaks at 5:33 a.m., when the Moon turns deep red inside Earth’s shadow. The Moon will sit low along the western horizon and may set during totality, especially across eastern Iowa, narrowing the viewing window as sunrise approaches.
In Des Moines, west-facing parks and open areas away from downtown lighting will provide clearer sightlines. Cedar Rapids and Davenport residents can use open farmland or riverfront areas along the Mississippi River for a broad western view. In Sioux City and western Iowa, darker rural skies improve contrast, while the Loess Hills offer elevated terrain for sweeping pre-dawn views.
The partial eclipse begins around 4:04 a.m. CT, giving early risers nearly an hour to watch Earth’s shadow steadily cover the Moon before totality. No eclipse glasses are required, and binoculars can enhance surface detail and deepen the copper-red hues.
Cloud cover could interfere, so checking local weather conditions on March 2 is essential. Once the Moon dips below the horizon the morning of March 3, Iowa will not see another total lunar eclipse until 2028 — making this pre-sunrise event worth planning for now.
