| Global Event: | Total Lunar Eclipse |
|---|---|
| Local Type: | Total Lunar Eclipse in Chicago, Illinois |
| Begins: | Tue, Mar 3, 2026 at 2:44 am |
| Maximum: | Tue, Mar 3, 2026 at 5:33 am 1.150 Magnitude |
| Ends: | Tue, Mar 3, 2026 at 6:24 am |
| Duration: | 3 hours, 40 minutes |
All times shown on this page are local time. |
March 3, 2026 — Total Lunar Eclipse — Chicago
The animation shows what the eclipse approximately looks like in Chicago. Stages and times of the eclipse are outlined below. All times are local time (CST) for Chicago.
| Time | Phase | Event | Direction | Altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2:44 am Tue, Mar 3 |
|
Penumbral Eclipse begins The Earth's penumbra start touching the Moon's face. |
 238° |
|
| 3:50 am Tue, Mar 3 |
|
Partial Eclipse begins Partial moon eclipse starts - moon is getting red. |
252° |
|
| 5:04 am Tue, Mar 3 |
|
Total Eclipse begins Total moon eclipse starts - completely red moon. |
265° |
|
| 5:33 am Tue, Mar 3 |
|
Maximum Eclipse
Moon is closest to the center of the shadow. Moon close to horizon, so make sure you have free sight to West. |
270° |
|
| 6:02 am Tue, Mar 3 |
|
Total Eclipse ends
Total moon eclipse ends. Moon close to horizon, so make sure you have free sight to West. |
274° |
|
| 6:24 am Tue, Mar 3 | Setting | Moonset Setting |
278° |
|
| 7:17 am Tue, Mar 3 | Not directly visible | Partial Eclipse ends Below horizon |
286° |
|
| 8:23 am Tue, Mar 3 | Not directly visible | Penumbral Eclipse ends Below horizon |
298° |
|
How to use altitude & direction to find in the sky
The curvature of the shadow's path and the apparent rotation of the Moon's disk is due to the Earth's rotation.
This total lunar eclipse is fully visible in Chicago. The total lunar eclipse is sometimes called a blood moon, as the Moon turns red.
Cloud Coverage (Mar 3)
In the past, this day was cloudy 81% of the time (since 2000).
Countdown until eclipse begins
74 Days 1 Hrs 11 Mins 50 Secs- When Is the Next Lunar Eclipse?
- Total Lunar Eclipse
- Why Does the Moon Turn Red?
- Partial Lunar Eclipse
- Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
- Can I See a Lunar Eclipse?
- Blood Moon - Total Lunar Eclipse
- Eclipse Seasons
- What Is a Tetrad?
- Magnitude of Eclipses
- Accuracy of Our Eclipse Calculations
- Why Two Dates for a Lunar Eclipse?
Eclipses and Transits Visible in Chicago
| Eclipse Visibility From Chicago | Visibility Worldwide | ||
|---|---|---|---|
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Mar 3, 2026 Total Lunar Eclipse | Total Lunar Eclipse |
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Aug 12, 2026 Partial Solar Eclipse | Total Solar Eclipse |
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Aug 27–28, 2026 Partial Lunar Eclipse | Partial Lunar Eclipse |
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Feb 20, 2027 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse | Penumbral Lunar Eclipse |
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Aug 17, 2027 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse | Penumbral Lunar Eclipse |
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Note: Click on the date link for details in Chicago, or the path map image for global details. Currently shown eclipse is highlighted. |
Next total solar eclipse visible in Chicago