March Full Moon: When to see the Worm Moon

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The last full moon in winter will light up the sky this week, coinciding with another special opportunity for skywatchers.

The worm moon was named by Native American tribes in the 18th century in reference to various creatures that emerged from their winter lairs to welcome spring. The March moon will reach its peak illumination at 7:42 a.m. ET Tuesday, March 7, according to Old Farmer’s Almanac. But someone looking in at the right moment could spot an amazing planetary phenomenon, too.

“What’s even more interesting now, and also visible tonight and this week, is the close and prominent location of Venus and Jupiter in the western sky just after sunset,” Mike Hanke, director of operations for the American Meteor Society, said via email. . “The astronomical word for this is ‘conjunction.’ These planets will set as the moon rises, so they can only be seen for an hour at sunset, near the western horizon.”

People who get a little rain on Monday or Tuesday night may also be able to spot a moonbow, which is similar to a solar rainbow but is produced by moonlight when it is refracted by water droplets in the air, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. Moonbows only occur when the full moon is low in the sky, so look for them after sunset when the sky is dark.

A worm moon isn’t your last chance to catch a special event in space or the sky. Here are the full moons, eclipses, and meteor showers to watch out for this year.

Most years have 12 full moons, but 2023 will have 13, with two — two giant ones — occurring in August. Supermoons are much brighter and closer to Earth than usual, and therefore appear larger in the sky.

Here is a list of the remaining full moons in 2023, according to Old Farmer’s Almanac:

There will be Two solar eclipses and two lunar eclipses in 2023.

A total solar eclipse — when the moon moves between the sun and Earth, blocking the sun — will be visible to people in Australia, Southeast Asia and Antarctica on April 20.

An annular solar eclipse will occur on October 14 and will be visible across North, Central, and South America. This occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth when the Moon is at or near its furthest point from the Earth – making the Moon appear smaller than the Sun and creating a glowing ring around the Moon.

When watching a solar eclipse, wear appropriate eclipse glasses to avoid the sun’s harmful rays.

A dim penumbral lunar eclipse — when the moon moves through the penumbra, the faint outer part of Earth’s shadow — will occur May 5 for those in Africa, Asia and Australia.

On October 28, a partial lunar eclipse will be visible to people in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, parts of North America, and most of South America. This is when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are not perfectly aligned, so only part of the Moon passes into the shadow.

There are 11 more meteors to catch this year, and they are most visible from late evening until dawn in areas not affected by light pollution.

here Peak dates: