March skygazing: a full blood moon rises and new season
| March 3 | Total Lunar Eclipse/Full Worm Moon |
| March 20 | Vernal equinox |
| March 25 and 26 | Conjunction of Jupiter and the Moon |
Assuming the clouds part long enough for us to see the sky occasionally, March promises at least one memorable celestial event: a full moon and total lunar eclipse on March 3. This will also mark the official start of spring and a few nights of intense discussions between the Moon and Jupiter.
March 3: Total Lunar Eclipse/Full Worm Moon
This month’s full moon is truly special. It coincides almost exactly with a total lunar eclipse! Lunar eclipses occur when the Sun, Earth and Moon align perfectly. If the moon is in the middle, it is a complete solar eclipse, with the moon casting its shadow on the earth. If the Earth is in the middle, then it is our shadow that is projected on the Moon.
For the reasons we explained during the last total lunar eclipse, this does not cause the Moon to completely disappear. Instead, our satellite takes on a dark red hue, which is why lunar eclipses are often called “blood moons.” The coincidence of a lunar eclipse and a full moon also provides the best opportunity to witness a blood moon in all its sanguine glory.
This month’s full moon is called the Worm Moon. The name refers to the return of earthworms to thawing ground or, perhaps, to beetle larvae emerging from the trunks of thawing trees. Regardless, the name alludes to the arrival of spring.
If you want to catch the blood moon action, you’ll need to get up early on the morning of March 3. The lunar eclipse reaches totality at 6:33 a.m. EST, and the moon will be at its maximum five minutes later.
March 20: Vernal Equinox
Good news for those of us still recovering from a historic February snowstorm. Spring is really on its way. The days are already getting longer and on March 20 we will reach the equinox. The vernal equinox, or vernal equinox, marks the start of spring in the northern hemisphere and the start of fall in the south. It is one of two days of the year when neither hemisphere is tilted more toward the sun than the other. Instead, Earth sits in perfect balance on the equator, with both hemispheres receiving equal amounts of sunlight.
March 25 and 26: Conjunction of Jupiter and the Moon
By the end of March, our courageous satellite will have recovered from its collision with our shadow and will have begun the process of returning to wholeness. If you look due south on the evenings of March 25 and 26, you’ll see it right next to Jupiter, high in the southern sky, in the middle of the constellation Gemini.
The two will be together for hours, making it seem like Jupiter is listening patiently while the moon tells epic stories about how it ended up being so bloody. The conjunction will be visible to the naked eye, appearing around 7:30 p.m. EST and pressing together until well after 2 a.m.
During any month, remember that you will get the best experience observing the cosmos if you move away from any sources of light pollution, give your eyeballs time to adjust to the darkness, And check out our stargazing tips before heading out into the night.
Until next month!
The best new PopSci 2025 releases
