Full ‘Worm Moon’ 2023: Exactly When To See This Week’s Perfect Alignment Of The Sun And Moon
When is the next full Moon? The next full moon will occur on Tuesday, March 7, 2023—and from Europe there will be a perfect alignment of Moon and Sun.
There are astronomers that will tell you that the night of the full Moon is not the best time to view our natural satellite. They’re not wrong, but they are missing something. Sure, if you want to study the craters and mountains of the Moon in detail, you’d be better off looking at the lunar surface through binoculars or a small telescope when the Moon appears only partially lit. There’s an awful lot less glare to contend with, for starters, but it’s also true that the terminator—the line between bright and dark on the lunar surface—is where you’ll see long shadows cast by craters and mountains.
Why to watch the full moonrise
However, the night of the full Moon remains an important occasion for anyone interested in nature, purely for the moment the Moon appears on the horizon as an entrancing orange orb. That’s surely one of the most spectacular sites of all, and if you haven’t seen it too often with your own naked eyes, then this month’s so-called “Worm Moon”—the final full Moon of winter in the northern hemisphere—provides you with an unmissable opportunity.
When to watch the ‘Worm Moon’ rise
Here are the exact times to see March’s “Worm Moon” from a few key cities in North America and Europe, but do check the exact times of moonrise and moonset for your location. If you don’t see the full Moon peek above the horizon at precisely these times, don’t worry. It will appear for sure soon after!
In London there’s a perfect match-up between the setting Sun and the rising full Moon.
Just after sunset on Tuesday, March 7, 2023
Tuesday evening offers the best opportunity to see the full “Worm Moon” rise into a twilight sky from North America:
- In New York sunset is at 5:53 p.m. EST and moonrise is at 6:10 p.m. EST (the moment of full Moon is at 7:42 a.m. EST).
- In Los Angeles sunset is at 5:53 p.m. EST and moonrise is at 6:19 p.m. EST (the moment of full Moon is at 4:42 a.m. EST).
- In London sunset is at 5:49 p.m. GMT and moonrise is at 5:49 p.m. GMT – a perfect match-up! (full Moon is at 12:42 p.m.).
Why is it called the ‘Worm Moon?’
The final full Moon of winter in the northern hemisphere, the “Worm Moon” is named for the worms that appear in the soil as the temperature is gradually rise. The name comes from native American tribes. This month’s full Moon has also been called the “Lentern Moon,” which means “Spring Moon.”
When is the next full Moon?
The next full Moon—the first full Moon of spring in the northern hemisphere—will be the “Pink Moon,” which turns full at 12:40 UTC on Thursday, April 6, 2023. Named after the blooming of wild ground phlox flowers, the “Pink Moon” will appear on the horizon just after sunset on that day.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
