Find out when the new moon, full moon occurs in March and details on the penumbral eclipse
Along with all the holidays in store this month, March also is welcoming a penumbral lunar eclipse.
Here’s what you need to know about the next full moon.
When is the next full moon?
The next full moon, a worm moon, will appear on Monday, March 25, at 3 a.m. March’s full moon also is a penumbral lunar eclipse, according to TimeandDate.com.
Ahead of the full moon, a new moon will occur on March 10 at 5 a.m., followed by a first quarter moon on March 17 at 12:11 a.m. The last quarter moon occurred on March 3 at 10:23 a.m., according to Almanac.
What is a worm moon?
Some say the moon is named after the earthworms of warming spring soil, but according to Jonathan Carver in the late 1700s, this moon refers to the larvae that emerge from the bark of trees and other winter hiding spots during this time, according to Almanac.
The worm moon is called the paschal moon if it is the first full moon on or after March 21 and is used to determine Easter. Paschal moon dates range from March 21 to April 18, according to TimeandDate.com.
Similarly, some know it as the Lenten moon, denoting the Christian Lent period before Easter. Other names include the “crow moon,” “snow crust moon,” “plough moon,” “chaste moon” and “sap moon,” according to Native American and Celtic culture.
This full moon coincides with the spirit of rebirth, purity, new beginnings and cleaning that the March equinox brings.
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What is a penumbral lunar eclipse?
The penumbral lunar eclipse on March 25 will be a slight lunar eclipse, in which the moon passes through the outermost edge of Earth’s shadow, according to TimeandDate.com.
The penumbral eclipse will begin at 12:53 a.m., peak at 3:12 a.m. and end at 5:32 a.m. This eclipse won’t be as dramatic as the total solar eclipse in April, but it will be visible from various continents.
April full moon
Looking ahead, the full moon in April is called the “pink moon.” It will be visible on April 23 at 7:49 p.m., according to Almanac.
The pink moon gets its name from the brightly colored pink phlox wildflowers that bloom across North America in early spring, and like March’s full moon, it can also be called a paschal moon, reports Farmers Almanac.
Other names for the pink moon are the “breaking ice moon,” “moon of red grass appearing,” “budding moon,” “seed moon” and “awakening moon,” among others, according to TimeandDate.com.
Also known as the “egg moon,” some say this namesake is the origin of the tale of the modern Easter Bunny laying Easter eggs.
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This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: When is the next full moon? New moon and penumbral eclipse March dates
