When You Can See the “worm Moon” at the Peak of Brightness
Moon lovers and occasional lunar watchers: if all goes according to plan, the March full moon will rise on Friday, March 18th. Known as the Worm Moon, it will be at its brightest around 3:20 AM ET. This is the last full moon before the start of spring on March 22, and thus marks the end of the endless winter.
Use this handy moonrise and set moonrise calculator to get moon information for your location.
Why is the March full moon called the Worm Moon?
The March moon’s nickname “Worm” comes from Native Americans naming the moon. This refers to the softening of the soil, which brings the worms to the surface for birds and other animals to eat. In other words, this is the time when we celebrate the return to life that spring represents.
Other indigenous groups called the March moon “Sugar Moon”, “Juice Moon”, “Crow Moon Returns”, and “Sore Eyes Moon”, referring to the blinding effect of reflected sunlight on the melting snow.
In Christendom, the March moon is known as the Lenten Moon if it occurs before the spring equinox. This is called the Easter full moon if it comes later. “Lent” in Middle English means “spring” and gives its name to the period of sacrifice before Big Baby J rises again at Easter.
My favorite name for March comes from the old Japanese lunar calendar. During the Yayoi period, which began around 300 BC, March was referred to as “ Yayoi “, which roughly means “finally”, e.g. “This damn winter is finally over”.
What does the March moon mean in astrological terms?
According to Bustle , March’s full moon will be in Libra, and it’s “a great moon to explore the dynamics in your closest relationships and openly communicate about your interpersonal issues,” so some people will be told as soon as the moon rises.
Astrologer Jordan says the March moon is telling us, “Your light is needed. Your unique energy is needed. We need your hobbies. We need your views.” A way to make demands on my time, March full moon!
Random, Surprising Fact About the Moon
Moon dust smells like gunpowder, and some people are allergic to it. Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison “Jack” Schmitt learned this the hard way. After walking on the lunar surface in 1972, Schmitt left some dust in the lunar capsule and suffered from red eyes, sneezing, and other allergy symptoms that lasted two hours.