Eyes to the skies for Super Worm Moon: Third full moon of the year is spotted over UK and will be at its biggest and brightest TONIGHT
- Tonight’s Super Worm Moon will be the largest and brightest of the year so far
- The moon will be 100 per cent full and reach its peak at 7.48pm BST tonight
- Considered a supermoon as it almost reaches its closest point in orbit of earth
- Due to cloudy forecasts tonight some viewers may not be able to see spectacle
Tonight’s Super Worm Moon will be the biggest and brightest moon of the year so far due to its proximity to earth.
Worm Moon is the common name for March’s full moon because at the time it appears the ground begins to soften and worms appear, bringing robins and other birds for the start of spring.
The moon will be 100 per cent full and appear at its brightest and biggest tonight at 7.48pm BST. It was also visible yesterday, when the moon was 98 per cent full, tomorrow it will be 99 per cent full.
Due to cloudy forecasts tonight some viewers may not be able to see the spectacle in all of its glory, however tomorrow is expected to bring clearer skies in the south.
The Super Worm Moon rising on a clear Saturday evening over Stoodley Pike, Todmorden, West Yorkshire. A supermoon occurs when the full moon nearly coincides with perigee – the point in the orbit of the moon at which it is nearest to the Earth
The Worm Moon is named for the earthworms that begin to appear in March, when the soil begins to warm up, bringing robins and other birds for the start of spring. It will appear at its largest on Sunday evening
In addition to the Worm Moon tonight’s moon is also considered by some to be a supermoon.
A supermoon occurs when the full moon nearly coincides with perigee – the point in the orbit of the moon at which it is nearest to the Earth.
There will be two additional supermoons this season – April 27, a ‘Pink Moon’ , and the ‘Flower Moon’ on May 26.
Neil Norman, an astronomer from Hadleigh, Suffolk, said ‘The name Worm Moon is taken from the North American Indian naming of the moons.
The Worm Moon setting on a clear Saturday morning over St Andrew’s Church in Sutton in the Isle, Cambridgeshire
A supermoon occurs when the full moon nearly coincides with perigee – the point in the orbit of the moon at which it is nearest to the Earth
‘This one refers to the first full moon of spring and the thawing of the ground, and hence the worms beginning to surface again.
‘In southern Britain, at 19.48pm on March 28 the moon will be exactly full.
‘It is the first Super Moon of the year meaning that it is at full phase at its closest approach to Earth.
In southern Britain, at 19.48pm on March 28 the moon will be exactly full. Pictured: The Worm Moon is seen over Bangkok, Thailand
The full Worm Moon is seen over Bangkok’s skyline on March 28
‘Very little difference in apparent size will be seen visually, but some photographers may like to image it and then use the same settings for the next normal full moon to make a comparison perhaps.’
He said to see the moon clearly it’s best to find a space away from light pollution, which is common in towns and cities.
And seek out a hilltop – the higher up you are, the easier it is to see the heavens clearly.