It might not be obvious just yet, but there are already signs that we’re nearing the end of the winter season.
Besides clear indicators such as longer daylight hours and the appearance of migrating birds, the March full moon—the Worm Moon—will soon tell of critters thawing below ground and in the bark of trees.
Wake up extra early and look to the morning sky on March 14 to witness the full Worm Moon reach peak illumination at exactly 2:55 a.m. EST.
Or alternatively, watch on the evenings prior to or after its reaching technical fullness when it will still look full.
When the Worm Moon rises next month, it will appear due east as the sun sets in the west—full moons are always directly opposite the sun from Earth, which is precisely why they appear full. At the moment of peak illumination, the Worm Moon will be in front of the Virgo constellation, near its brightest star, Spica.
The name “Worm Moon” refers to more than just the full moon and includes the entire March lunar cycle. Many assume the name was derived from the grubs underground that start to stir as the soil thaws; however, that may be a misnomer.
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An illustration of the full Worm Moon. Matt Cardy/Getty Images; Shutterstock/New Africa
To unravel some of the lore behind moon names, like Wolf Moon, Beaver Moon, and Worm Moon, it’s necessary to dig into colonial or Native American history. While it’s possible our ancestors noted robins returning and rooting out worms and named March’s moon accordingly, the Old Farmer’s Almanac looks to the writings of colonial explorer Jonathan Carver, who visited the Dakota tribe in the 1760s.
Carver wrote of his encounters with Native American cultures and noted that the Worm Moon actually refers to beetle larvae that were seen squirming in the bark of thawing trees and other winter hideouts in this month.
Beetle larvae. Shutterstock/ Valeriya_Chistyakova
History also reveals a vast assortment of other names. The March full moon was called the Sugar Moon by the Ojibwe because that’s when sugar maples start producing. The Pueblo tribe called it the Wind Strong Moon because of the season’s windy days. The Lakota and Assiniboine named it the Sore Eyes Moon, after the sun’s blinding glare reflected off the snow. There are too many to name. All point to signs of spring.
Total Eclipse of Worm Moon
As the Worm Moon peaks next month, observers may note a strange phenomenon: the moon’s surface might darken noticeably and then glow a deep and eerie shade of red.
The reason? In a fluke coincidence, a total lunar eclipse happens to fall exactly three minutes after the full Worm Moon. A lunar eclipse is when the sun casts Earth’s shadow upon the surface of the moon, blocking out its light. The three celestial objects (sun, Earth, and moon) must line up almost perfectly for this to occur, which means the moon must also be full at that time. This will be a total lunar eclipse, meaning a moon fully covered in shadow.
The moon will reach its moment of greatest totality (deepest within Earth’s shadow) at 2:58 a.m., though a partial and penumbral eclipse will cause a slight dimming several hours before and after that event as the moon enters and exits the areas of shadow.
A lunar eclipse is seen in Sydney, Australia, on Nov. 8, 2022. Brook Mitchell/Getty Images
An observer anywhere in the Americas or Greenland will be able to witness the eclipse. Unfortunately, those in Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa will miss out. Unlike solar eclipses, the lunar variety is absolutely safe to watch without eye protection.
The bottom line? The full Worm Moon falls on March 14, marking the arrival of spring, which officially starts on March 20, but you’ll need to rise very early to catch its peak at 2:55 a.m. EST. Moon viewers will be rewarded with an added bonus: a total lunar eclipse.
