Iowans need to plan on staying up this evening to see a rare event in the night sky. A total eclipse of the moon will be visible over the Hawkeye State for the first time since 1966. One skywatcher says the moon will turn an eerie shade of red-orange at the eclipse’s peak.Christian Anderson is Planetarium Educator at the Science Center of Iowa, which is hosting an eclipse-watching party in Des Moines tonight. It’s open to anyone and includes free educational talks and free hot chocolate. Anderson says the eclipse will begin around 9 p-m with the peak lasting from 10 to 11 o’clock.In centuries past, Anderson says some people would’ve viewed this event in the night sky as a sign of looming evil and destruction.Anderson says he’ll be hoping for clear skies tonight so the gathered moon-gazers can get an unobstructed view of the celestial event.
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