| Global Event: | Total Lunar Eclipse |
|---|---|
| Local Type: | Total Lunar Eclipse in Ames, Iowa |
| Begins: | Thu, Dec 20, 2029 at 4:42 pm |
| Maximum: | Thu, Dec 20, 2029 at 4:46 pm 1.113 Magnitude |
| Ends: | Thu, Dec 20, 2029 at 7:41 pm |
| Duration: | 2 hours, 59 minutes | All times shown on this page are local time. |
December 20, 2029 — Total Lunar Eclipse — Ames
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The animation shows what the eclipse approximately looks like. Stages and times of the eclipse are outlined below.
| Time | Phase | Event | Direction | Altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:42 pm Thu, Dec 20 | Not directly visible | Penumbral Eclipse begins Below horizon |  23° | -21.9° |
| 2:55 pm Thu, Dec 20 | Not directly visible | Partial Eclipse begins Below horizon | 39° | -15.2° |
| 4:15 pm Thu, Dec 20 | Not directly visible | Total Eclipse begins Below horizon | 53° | -4.9° |
| 4:42 pm Thu, Dec 20 | Not directly visible | Maximum Eclipse Below horizon | 58° | -0.3° |
| 4:42 pm Thu, Dec 20 | Rising | Moonrise Rising, but the combination of a very low moon and the total eclipse phase will make the moon so dim that it will be extremely difficult to view until moon gets higher in the sky or the total phase ends. | 58° | -0.2° |
| 4:46 pm Thu, Dec 20 | Maximum in Ames This is the moment when the eclipse reaches its greatest magnitude while the entire Moon is above the horizon in Ames. The true maximum point of this eclipse cannot be seen in Ames because the Moon is below the horizon at that time. Since the Moon is near the horizon at this time, we recommend going to a high point or finding an unobstructed area with free sight to East-northeast for the best view of the eclipse. | 58° | 0.4° | |
| 5:08 pm Thu, Dec 20 | Total Eclipse ends Total moon eclipse ends. Moon close to horizon, so make sure you have free sight to East-northeast. | 62° | 3.5° | |
| 6:28 pm Thu, Dec 20 | Partial Eclipse ends Partial moon eclipse ends. | 74° | 16.6° | |
| 7:41 pm Thu, Dec 20 | Penumbral Eclipse ends The Earth's penumbra ends. | 85° | 29.4° |
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.
Cloud Coverage (Dec 20)
In the past, this day was cloudy 78% of the time (since 2000).
Lunar Eclipses
- 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 Ames
| Eclipse Visibility From Ames | Visibility Worldwide | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 3, 2026 Total Lunar Eclipse | Total Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| Aug 27–28, 2026 Partial Lunar Eclipse | Partial Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| Feb 20, 2027 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse | Penumbral Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| Aug 17, 2027 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse | Penumbral Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| Jan 11–12, 2028 Partial Lunar Eclipse | Partial Lunar Eclipse |  | Note: Click on the date link for details in Ames, or the path map image for global details. |
Next annular eclipse visible in Ames