(CNN) The final full moon of winter will light up the sky this week, and it coincides with another special opportunity for sky watchers.
It was named the Worm Moon by Native American tribes in the 18th centuryTh March’s moon will reach peak brightness at 7:42 a.m. ET on Tuesday, March 7, marking the emergence of various creatures from winter hiding places to welcome spring. The Old Farmer’s Almanac. But someone looking up at the right time can also catch a stunning planetary event.
“Now that’s a little more interesting, tonight and this week are visible, intimate and important Position of Venus and Jupiter in the western sky after sunset,” Mike Hankey, operations manager for the American Meteorological Society, said by email. “The astronomical term for this is ‘conjunction.’ These planets set when the moon rises, so they are only visible near the western horizon for about an hour at sunset.”
Those who get a little rain on Monday or Tuesday nights may see a crescent, which looks like a solar rainbow, but it’s caused by moonlight refracting through water droplets in the air, says the old Farmer’s Almanac. Moons 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 place or celestial event. Full moons, eclipses and meteor showers are here Watch out this year.
Full Moons and Super Moons
Most years have 12 full moons, but 2023 will have 13, including two supermoons – both in August. Supermoons appear larger in the sky because they are brighter than normal and closer to Earth.
Here’s a list of the remaining full moons in 2023 The Old Farmer’s Almanac:
- April 6: Pink Moon
- May 5: Flower Moon
- June 3: Strawberry Moon
- July 3: Buck Moon
- August 1: Sturgeon Moon
- August 30: Blue Moon
- September 29: Harvest Moon
- October 28: Hunter’s Moon
- November 27: Beaver Moon
- December 26: Cold Moon
Lunar and solar eclipses
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. When the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth when the Moon is at or near its farthest point from the Earth – the Moon appears smaller than the Sun and forms a luminous ring around the Moon.
When viewing a solar eclipse, wear proper eclipse glasses to avoid damaging the sunlight.
A penumbral lunar eclipse — when the moon moves through the penumbra, the dim, outer part of Earth’s shadow — will occur on May 5 for people in Africa, Asia and Australia.
On October 28, people in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, parts of North America and most of South America will be able to see a partial lunar eclipse. This is when the Sun, Earth and Moon are not perfectly aligned, so only part of the Moon goes into shadow.
meteor shower
There are 11 more meteor showers this year, and they are most visible from dusk to dawn in areas not affected by light pollution.
Here are the ones Their peak dates:
- Lyrics: April 22-23
- Sagittarius Aquarius: May 5-6
- South Delta Aquarits: July 30-31
- Alpha Capricornids: July 30-31
- Perseids: August 12-13
- Orionides: October 20-21
- Southern Tarits: November 4-5
- Northern Torrids: November 11-12
- Leonidas: November 17-18
- Gemini: December 13-14
- Ursits: December 21-22
