Full Worm Moon wiggles out of sky

William Atkins
Wednesday, 11 March 2009 20:15

Science - Space

And, in native American folklore, the Farmers' Almanac continues to say, “The more northern tribes knew this Moon as the Full Crow Moon, when the cawing of crows signaled the end of winter; or the Full Crust Moon, because the snow cover becomes crusted from thawing by day and freezing at night. The Full Sap Moon, marking the time of tapping maple trees, is another variation."

The Farmers' Almanac adds, "To the settlers, it was also known as the Lenten Moon, and was considered to be the last full Moon of winter.”

Other names for the Worm Moon include Sugaring Moon (similar to the Sap Moon), Seed Moon, Moon of Winds, Moon of the Snowblind, and Storm Moon, or a time when weather patterns in the Northern Hemisphere begin to change.

Additional pictures, from various other photographers, of the Worm Moon are also found on the SpaceWeather.com website.

And, of course, the full Moons of March, April, and May, for instance, in the Northern Hemisphere corresponds to the full Moons of September, October, and November, respectively, in the Southern Hemisphere.

Further information on the various names for the Moon is found on the Science@NASA website “Watch Out for the Harvest Moon.”