You’ll want to stay up late and keep your eyes on the sky tonight—a near-total lunar eclipse will be visible over Chicago.
But what exactly is a lunar eclipse and when is the best time to see it?
Here are all your questions answered.
What is a lunar eclipse?
A lunar eclipse happens when the Earth, Moon, and Sun align, with the Earth passing between the two celestial bodies.
A partial lunar eclipse occurs when a portion of the Moon passes through the Earth’s umbra, or deepest part of its shadow.
When is the lunar eclipse tonight in Chicago?
Tonight’s lunar eclipse in Chicago will begin at 8:23 p.m., according to Time and Date.
Predictions indicate the eclipse will reach peak illumination at 11:12 p.m. At this point, the eclipse will reach a depth of 96.2%, covering nearly the entire face of the moon.
How long will the eclipse last?
In total, the eclipse will last 5 hours and 38 minutes.
Where is the best place to watch the eclipse?
The best spot to view the lunar eclipse is any area of low light pollution. In Chicago, there’s no better spot to escape the city lights than the lakefront.
Areas like the Adler Planetarium Campus or Montrose Moonrise Observation Point provide unobstructed views of the stars.
