The animation shows what the eclipse approximately looked like in Chicago. Stages and times of the eclipse are outlined below. All times were local time (CDT) for Chicago.
Time
Phase
Event
Direction
Altitude
3:47 am Wed, May 26
Penumbral Eclipse beginsThe Earth's penumbra start touching the Moon's face.
224°
13.5°
4:45 am Wed, May 26
Partial Eclipse beginsPartial moon eclipse starts - moon is getting red. Moon close to horizon, so make sure you have free sight to Southwest.
234°
5.6°
5:23 am Wed, May 26
Maximum in ChicagoThis is the moment when the eclipse reaches its greatest magnitude while the entire Moon is above the horizon in Chicago. The true maximum point of this eclipse cannot be seen in Chicago 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 West-southwest for the best view of the eclipse.
241°
0.2°
5:26 am Wed, May 26
Setting
MoonsetSetting, but the combination of a very low moon and the total eclipse phase makes the Moon so dim before it sets, that it might disappear from view some time before it sets.