A 'Snow Moon' will be visible in UK skies on Wednesday
The Snow Moon is the second full moon of the year!
Astronomy lovers are in for a treat this week as the annual Snow Moon is set to be visible across UK skies on Wednesday 16th February!
What is the Snow Moon?
The Snow Moon, named due to the amount of snow fall we usually see fall in the month of February, is the second Full Moon of the year, with some calling it the Bear Moon, the Hunger Moon, or the Eagle Moon across the world.
When can I see the Snow Moon?
If you'd like to witness the lovely Snow Moon shine bright in the skies, be sure to look up as it reaches peak brightness late afternoon on Wednesday 16th February.
To be precise, according to the US space agency NASA, the Snow Moon will peak at 4:56pm on Wednesday 16th.
Of course, this time is before sunset, so astronomy lovers will also be able to look up to the sky when darkness falls to get a better look at the Snow Moon.
Now take a look through our tips on how to view shooting stars:
1. Dark sky
You might not realise how much light pollution there is in your neighbourhood, find out more about light pollution and where you can find a really dark sky here.
Allow your eyes 15 minutes to adjust to the darkness. Don't forget that the moon can also interfere so try to avoid times when it is visible.
2. Date and time
To increase your chances of seeing some meteors make sure you find out the best time to look for them. Often it is when the sky is at its darkest (in the middle of the night), or if there is a meteor shower, when the radiant (where the meteors come from - the constellation Leo) is high in the sky.
3. Look in the right area
It sounds obvious, but the sky is a very large area and meteors are very fast! Make sure you know which area of the sky you should be looking in. The Leonids come from Leo, the easiest way to find it would be to use a free sky map app on your phone. We've also included a video at the bottom of this page to help you find it.
4. Good weather
Again, it seems obvious, but there's no point in standing in the cold when it's cloudy. Check the weather forecast before going outside, and if it's going to be clear later on then wait until then if you can.
5. Don't use a telescope or binoculars
Using a telescope or binoculars will DECREASE your chances of seeing a meteor. Meteors are so quick that you are likely to miss them if you don't use the naked eye. Save your telescope or binoculars for the moon or planets.
Star sign fans were left both angry and confused back in 2020 when a number of news stories started to circulate that the Zodiac had been changed by NASA.
After stories started to circulate on social media about a 'new' star sign being discovered, the American space agency hit back saying, 'No, we did not change the zodiac.'
They tweeted: '👀 We see your comments about a zodiac story that re-emerges every few years. No, we did not change the zodiac. When the Babylonians invented the constellations 3,000 years ago, they chose to leave out a 13th sign. So, we did the math.'
Now read:
10 things you probably didn't know about shooting stars
It turns out you've probably been saying 'Nutella' wrong this whole time