The First Full Moon of Spring Will Illuminate the Sky This Weekend
This year’s full Worm Moon will reach peak illumination at 2:48 p.m. EDT on Sunday, March 28, 2021.
Its name marks the return of earthworms to the soil, one of the first signs of spring.
Scientists disagree on whether March’s full moon is a supermoon or not.
How have you been celebrating the first few days of spring? Taking a morning stroll, tilling the garden, and catching some rays on the porch are all wonderful, but this weekend, you can celebrate in the best way of all: watching the first full moon of spring illuminate the sky.
The full Worm Moon reaches peak illumination at 2:48 p.m. EDT on Sunday, March 28, 2021, per NASA. Yep, that happens to be in the middle of the afternoon—but the moon should appear mostly full throughout the weekend and into Monday.
To catch a glimpse of the Worm Moon in all its glory, look close to the horizon around sunset, The Old Farmer’s Almanac recommends. It’ll be quite bright, making it one of the easier full moons to spot this year.
Its name might sound odd at first, but it makes sense: This is the time of year when earthworms reappear in the soil after spending the colder months buried deep underground, NASA explains. Other names for the March full moon, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, include the Sugar Moon (for the thawed sap of sugar maples), the Eagle Moon (for the reemergence of the birds), and the Wind Strong Moon (for the blustery days common this time of year).
The March 2021 Worm Moon is also the first supermoon of the year, per EarthSky. Because there is no official definition of “supermoon,” researchers disagree on whether or not to include this one on the list, which definitely includes this year’s April and May full moons.
And because this is the first full moon after the spring equinox (a.k.a. the first day of spring, which took place on Saturday, March 20), the Worm Moon is also this year’s Paschal full moon, which decides the date of Easter. The holiday falls on the first Sunday after the Paschal moon, meaning Easter takes place on Sunday, April 4 this year.
The next full moon (and guaranteed supermoon), the Pink Moon, will appear on Monday, April 26.
You Might Also Like
