It may not have the most desirable nickname, but these stunning images capture how the so-called Full Worm Moon lit up the sky over the entire world in one night.
The spectacle, named to signify the start of spring, peaked in the early hours of Tuesday, but was still visible last night at over 99 percent illumination, making it appear full to most observers.
They took amazing pictures of the moon overhead LondonManchester and Essex in the UK, while more skywatchers in North Macedonia, Rome, Malta and Egypt also dug up their cameras.
It was the last full moon of winter, preceded by a Wolf Moon and a Snow Moon. Astronomy buffs can watch the Full Pink Moon next month.
This year’s Worm Full Moon wasn’t a “supermoon” either.
Bright: It may not have the most desirable nickname, but these stunning images capture how the so-called Full Worm Moon lit up the skies of the entire world in one night. This image was taken over Manchester
Great shot: Skywatchers took stunning pictures of the Moon over London (pictured), Manchester and Essex in the UK
Astronomers disagree on what they think a supermoon is, but the original definition, introduced by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979, defines it as a full moon or new moon that approaches Earth 90 percent of its closest distance, or 223 600 miles (360,000 km) . ) or less.
At its peak, the 2023 Worm Moon was about 250,800 miles (403,658 km) away, so it did not fall into the supermoon category.
The first supermoon of 2023 will occur on August 1st.
The names of the full moons have historically been used to track the seasons and are therefore closely associated with nature.
The worm moon is the common name for the full moon in March because at this time the earth begins to soften and piles of soil left by the worms begin to appear.
This encourages the birds to return to feed, which is considered a sign of the return of spring after a long winter.
It is believed to be descended from Native Americans.
“The tribes kept track of the seasons by giving a distinctive name to each recurring full moon,” says the Farmer’s Almanac. “Their names were applied to the entire month in which they occurred.
At this time of the year, the ground begins to soften so much that earthworms reappear, attracting robins and other birds to feed on them – a true sign of spring.
“Roots begin to break through the soil, and the Earth is experiencing a new birth, awakening from its winter hibernation.”
The Maine Farmers’ Almanac began publishing Native American full moon names in the 1930s, and these names are now widely known and used.
According to this almanac, tribes in the northeastern United States also refer to the March full moon as the Crow, Cork, Sap, or Sugar Moon.
Crust, because the snow cover was crusted from melting during the day and freezing at night, and Juice (or Sugar) Moon, because maples were harvested at this time.
It is also known as Crow Moon as crows are one of the first birds to breed in early spring and now they start to make more noise and become more active.
More southern tribes called this spectacle the Worm Moon, after the casts of earthworms that appeared when the earth thawed.
This Full Worm Moon image shows it rising over Essex farmland in Chadwell St. Mary, Thurrock.
Early in the morning, the Worm Full Moon, surrounded by fast moving clouds, is visible over Dundsen in Oxfordshire.
The moon was captured here behind Rocca Calascio in Italy. It was the last full moon of winter, preceded by a Wolf Moon and a Snow Moon. Astronomy lovers can watch the full pink moon next month
At its peak, the 2023 Worm Moon was about 250,800 miles (403,658 km) away, so it did not fall into the supermoon category. Here he is depicted above the western bank of the Nile, in southern Egypt.
After the April Pink Moon, there will be a Flower Moon in May due to the abundance of flowers. This picture was taken near the Roman Forum in Rome.
“It makes sense that only the southern tribes called it the Worm Moon,” he said. NASA.
“When glaciers covered northern North America, they wiped out native earthworms.
“After these glaciers melted about 12,000 years ago, more northern forests grew back without earthworms. Most earthworms in these areas are invasive species introduced from Europe and Asia.”
After the April Pink Moon, there will be a Flower Moon in May due to the abundance of flowers.
This will be followed by the Strawberry Moon in June, the Deer Full Moon in July and the Sturgeon Moon in August.
The year ends with the Corn Moon, the Hunter Moon, the Beaver Moon and the Cold Moon.
This year’s full moon wasn’t a “supermoon” either, but it was still bright in the night sky over Manhattan, New York.
The names of the full moons have historically been used to track the seasons and are therefore closely associated with nature. The worm moon is the common name for the full moon in March because at this time the earth begins to soften and piles of soil left by the worms begin to appear. Pictured is the climb behind Castel del Monte in Andria, Italy.
According to this almanac, Native American tribes in the northeastern United States also referred to the March full moon as Crow, Cork, Sapova, or Sugar Moon. Pictured here is the moon rising over a street lamp in Skopje, North Macedonia.
Enormous: More southern tribes called this spectacle the Worm Moon, after the casts of earthworms that appeared when the earth thawed. This photo was taken over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.