Omaha, NE / Topeka, KS – Residents across Nebraska and Kansas will be among the best-positioned skywatchers anywhere in the United States to witness the most dramatic eclipse of 2026, with viewing conditions expected to be near ideal from start to finish.
According to astronomical forecasts, four eclipses will occur in 2026, including two solar and two lunar eclipses. For both states, the clear highlight is the March total lunar eclipse, which should be visible in full statewide, weather permitting.
🌕 March 3, 2026 — Total Lunar Eclipse (Prime Viewing in NE & KS)
This is the top eclipse event of 2026 for U.S. residents, and Nebraska and Kansas sit directly in the heart of the strongest viewing corridor.
According to eclipse timing data, the Moon will enter Earth’s darkest shadow during the late-night to early-morning hours Tuesday, March 3. Viewers in Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island, Kearney, North Platte, Wichita, Topeka, Lawrence, Manhattan, and Overland Park are expected to see every phase of the eclipse, including a long-lasting deep red “Blood Moon” during totality.
Unlike states farther east or west, the Moon will remain high in the sky during peak totality across much of Nebraska and Kansas, allowing for extended viewing, strong visibility, and excellent photography conditions.
👉 Lunar eclipses are safe to view without special glasses.
🌞 August 12, 2026 — Solar Eclipse (Partial in NE & KS)
A major total solar eclipse will cross Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain later in the year. In Nebraska and Kansas, the event will appear only as a partial solar eclipse.
During the late morning hours, the Sun will be partially obscured across both states. Certified solar eclipse glasses are required for safe viewing.
🌕 August 27–28, 2026 — Partial Lunar Eclipse
A second lunar eclipse later in the summer will also be visible across Nebraska and Kansas, though only modest shadowing of the Moon is expected.
🧭 Nebraska & Kansas Eclipse Takeaway
- ⭐ Best local event: March 3 total lunar eclipse
- 👀 Viewing quality: Exceptional — among the best in the U.S.
- ☀️ Solar eclipse: Partial locally; totality occurs overseas
