A Super Worm Moon will be visible tonight
It will light up the sky!
2021 has certainly been a good year so far for astronomy lovers. Not only did we witness the Wolf Moon in January, the Snow Moon lit up our skies at the end of February, and now a Super Worm Moon is due this weekend!
What is the Super Worm Moon?
Also known as Sap Moon, Crust Moon, Crown Moon, Lenten Moon and Wind Moon, the Super Worm Moon is the full Moon in March.
March's full Moon reportedly adopts its name as it represents earthworms reappearing in the soil as the ground starts to thaw. Although only April and May's Moons are Super Moons, many astronomers also class March and June's full Moons as Super Moons, this is due to size and brightness.
When can I see the Super Worm Moon?
The Super Worm Moon is due to be at its peak at 7.48pm on Sunday 28th March.
Don't forget the clocks will go forward one hour this weekend, so don't miss it!
Top tips for stargazers:
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.
When is the next full moon?
There's a Full Moon every month of the year. Check out all of the dates and names of the 2021 Full Moons below:
28th January: Wolf Moon
27th February: Snow Moon
28th March: Worm Moon
27th April: Pink Moon
26th May: Flower Moon
24th June: Strawberry Moon
24th July: Buck Moon
22nd August: Sturgeon Moon
21st September: Corn/Harvest Moon
20th October: Hunter's Moon
19th November: Beaver Moon
19th December: Cold Moon