Solar eclipse photos, videos from Iowa and across the Midwest

The Des Moines Register

The clouds broke free at just the right moment for Iowans gathered in Des Moines to catch sight of Monday's solar eclipse.

It's the first exclusive-to-the-United States total eclipse since 1776 and drew huge crowds to cities and rural areas across U.S. in the path of totality.

ACROSS THE NATION: Watch the solar eclipse live

Four Des Moines Register photographers were stationed around the Midwest and captured photos of the eclipse and spectacle.

In Des Moines:

At Carhenge in far western Nebraska:

In St. Joseph, Mo.:

In the far southwest corner of Iowa (near Hamburg):

In Iowa City:

Across America:

The lead up:

Mountains upon mountains of stories and interactive maps have been created to satisfy curious Americans; this piece has answers for basic questions just for Iowans.

When will the eclipse be visible in Iowa?

In Des Moines, the eclipse will begin at 11:42 a.m., according to the National Weather Service. Start time in Fort Dodge is 11:41 a.m., Mason City is 11:43 a.m., Marshalltown is 11:44 a.m. and Madison and Ottumwa is 11:45 a.m.

How long will the eclipse be visible in the Des Moines metro area?

Two hours and 51 minutes, according to the National Weather Service. But the fullest coverage Des Moines will see occurs at 1:08 p.m. That's when the moon will cover 95 percent of the sun.

What is the expected weather on Monday?

According to The National Weather Service, storms are likely to develop Sunday night over northwest Iowa. Most models suggest the storms will dissipate by mid-afternoon Monday, though the NWS warns they cannot predict with 100 percent certainty how a storm system will develop.

Even if the rain clears, the NWS does expect a mostly cloudy afternoon. However, if the clouds are thin enough, sky-watchers in Des Moines could still see the eclipse.

ECLIPSE: Ultimate guide | Interactive map

Where do I go to get those glasses I keep hearing about?

Solar glasses, or eclipse glasses, are hundreds of times stronger than sunglasses. Buy a pair that meet the current international standard: ISO 12312-2. Many vendors are sold out, and the few remaining on Amazon are growing ever more expensive. But some free events in Des Moines will be handing them out for free (more on that later).

Can I take pictures?

It depends. According to NASA, you can safely take a picture with a smartphone, but more powerful camera lenses need to have a solar filter. If you look at a partial eclipse through a camera lens, the concentrated rays will damage the filter and enter your eyes, even if you're wearing eclipse glasses, according to the National Weather Service.

I'm thinking of hopping in my car Monday to drive to the path of totality. Advice?

The path of totality will graze the southwest corner of Iowa, but actually getting there might be challenging. Many eclipse enthusiasts booked hotel rooms, Airbnbs and campsites in the path of totality more than a year in advance. Officials predict heavy traffic the day of the eclipse, so if you do want to drive to the path of totality, leave early. Events are plentiful.

The shaded area shows the small corner of far southwest Iowa where the August total solar eclipse will be visible near the Missouri River.

Where can I find a watch party?

Even though central Iowa won't see a total eclipse, residents are still excited. Those interested in experiencing the partial eclipse with others can try one of these events:

Take your lunch to the Iowa State Capitol, where staff from the Science Center of Iowa and Des Moines Astronomical Society will provide telescopes with safety filters. 1007 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines. 11:45 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Reiman Gardens Solar Eclipse Viewing Party: Make a solar eclipse viewer for safe sky-gazing while grooving to a solar eclipse playlist. Event begins 11 a.m. at 1407 University Blvd., Ames
Winterset Public Library Solar Eclipse Party: Keep a pair of safety solar viewing goggles as a souvenir. Event begins 11:30 am at 123 N. Second St., Winterset.
Solar Eclipse Party on the Rooftop: Watch the solar eclipse with a $3 Blue Moon in hand at 300 Craft & Rooftop. The bar will also be giving away solar glasses. Event begins 11:30 a.m. at 300 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy., Des Moines
Solar Eclipse Party at DMSC: The Social Club will open its roof (and bar) to eclipse viewers, who can bring their own lunch and eclipse glasses. Event begins 11 a.m. at 900 Mulberry St, Des Moines.
Solar Eclipse Viewing and Art: The Waukee Public Library staff will teach safe eclipse-viewing techniques, then move out to their lawn to look skyward. Kids can also make solar color-changing bead jewelry. Event begins 11:15 a.m. at 950 Warrior Lane, Waukee.

We also have a list of other kid-friendly eclipse events in the Des Moines metro area.

When will my next eclipse-viewing opportunity be?

Solar eclipses occur, on average, every 18 months somewhere on Earth. But to be in the 70-mile path of totality in the Midwest is rare. The last one in the continental U.S. occurred in 1979 in the northwest corner of the country.

The next total eclipse in the U.S. will be visible in April 2024 and will trace a path from Texas to Maine, according to NASA. Eclipse-chasers, though, will likely travel to Chile or Argentina for the next total eclipse in December 2020.

Those hoping to see a total eclipse from Des Moines are out of luck: We won't get one until 2178.

Register joins USA TODAY NETWORK's eclipse-coverage team

Not satisfied with looking to the sky Monday? The Des Moines Register and its USA TODAY NETWORK partners have daylong programming planned to document the eclipse's path from Northwest to South on Monday.

Four Register photojournalists will use their expertise to capture images and video of this rare phenomenon. Three will be in places getting a total eclipse.

RODNEY WHITE (@rodneywhite on Twitter, @rodneyawhite on Instagram) will be in St. Joseph, Missouri.

ZACH BOYDEN-HOLMES (@boydenphoto) will be at the Carhenge sculpture near Alliance, Nebraska.

KELSEY KREMER (@kelsey_kremer) and reporter MIKE KILEN will be stationed at the sliver of southwest Iowa seeing a total eclipse.

MICHAEL ZAMORA (@mzamoraphoto, @zamoraphoto) will cover events in Des Moines.

FOLLOW ALONG: A national live video tracking the eclipse will be published at DesMoinesRegister.com (and in the Register's iOS and Android apps) around noon. Check out the Register's social media accounts, especially Instagram (@DMRegister) for more live coverage.

LATER ON: Check out timelapse videos, photo galleries and much more from around the nation at DesMoinesRegister.com — and pick up a special eclipse edition of The Des Moines Register with expanded coverage on Tuesday.