March Full Moon 2024: Worm Moon

~6 min
Topics:Moon

The Full Worm Moon will take place on Monday, March 25, 2024. In March, the Full Moon will be in the constellation Virgo, near its brightest star, Spica. To identify the constellation in which the Moon will be located and the stars that surround our natural satellite at any given time, use the free astronomy app Sky Tonight. Read on to find out the meaning behind the March Full Moon’s peculiar name and learn about a lunar eclipse that coincides with it!

Contents

When is the Full Moon in March 2024?

The first Full Moon of a new season will occur at 07:00 GMT (2:00 a.m. EST) on March 25 and will be located in the constellation Virgo. The Moon will appear to be full on the night of Sunday, March 24, through Tuesday, March 26.

The Full Moon will climb to the highest point in the sky around midnight local time. But our advice is to start observations just after the Moon rises fully above the horizon — at this time, it looks bigger than usual and appears orange in color.

To find out when the Moon rises above the horizon, use the astronomical app Sky Tonight. The app also shows the lunar disk’s size and its illumination, based on your location.

How long does the Full Moon last?

The Full Moon time mentioned above is the time when the Moon and the Sun are aligned on opposite sides of the Earth, and our natural satellite is 100% illuminated by the Sun. But even after the Moon passes this moment, it appears as a complete circle in the sky to the unaided eye. So, in this case, timing is not so important — you will see the full lunar disk for several nights around the exact time of the Full Moon.

March Moon phases 2024

Different Moon phases are good for different types of observations. The Full Moon shines the brightest, the New Moon, on the contrary, doesn’t obstruct the view of the stars, and the quarter phases are best for observing the Moon’s features through a telescope. So, here are the Moon phases in March 2024:

  • Last Quarter Moon: March 3, 15:24 GMT (10:24 a.m. EST)
  • New Moon: March 10, 09:00 GMT (4:00 a.m. EST)
  • First Quarter Moon: March 17, 04:11 GMT (March 16, 11:11 p.m. EST)
  • Full Moon: March 25, 07:00 GMT (02:00 a.m. EST)
March Moon phases 2024
The four main lunar phases for March 2024. Tap here for the detailed lunar calendar.

March New Moon

The New Moon this month will take place on Sunday, March 10, at 09:00 GMT (4:00 a.m. EST). At this moment, the Moon will be located in the constellation Aquarius, near its border with the constellation Pisces.

The New Moon is not usually visible to the naked eye. During this phase, the Moon is positioned between the Earth and the Sun, with its illuminated side facing away from the Earth. The only time when you can see the New Moon is during the solar eclipse. The next such event occurs on April 8, 2024.

But here is the bright side — this phase is perfect for observing the night sky, especially faint celestial objects, such as galaxies or star clusters. By the way, the New Moon in March 2024 is the best night to participate in a special event — the Messier Marathon! It's an astronomical challenge that invites enthusiasts to observe all 110 objects listed in the Messier catalog in a single night. Read more about this event in our dedicated article.

What is the bright dot next to the Moon tonight?

On March 25, the Full Moon will be located in the constellation Virgo, not far from the bright star Spica (mag 1.0). After that, the Moon will move towards the constellation Scorpius and, by March 30-31, come very close to the bright star Antares (mag 1.1).

You can learn what stars or planets the Moon meets right now with the help of the astronomy app Sky Tonight. Launch the app and point your device at the sky in the direction of your view. Then tap the big blue button to turn on the Augmented Reality mode, and you’ll see the sky map overlaid on the image from your device’s camera. To learn the name of an object in the sky, just tap on the corresponding dot on your screen. For a visual representation, watch our short video tutorial.

If you want to be aware of all the planets that will pass near the Moon this month, check out our monthly updated article. There we list all the upcoming planetary conjunctions with the Moon.

Penumbral lunar eclipse 2024

This year, the Worm Moon coincides with a penumbral lunar eclipse. During the eclipse, 98% of the Moon’s surface will be covered by the Earth’s penumbra. The maximum phase of the eclipse will occur on March 25 at 07:13 GMT. The lunar eclipse will be visible from North and South America, northeastern Asia, and much of Europe, Africa, and Australia. You can check if the eclipse is visible in your location using the Eclipse Guide app.

Full Moon vs. Penumbral eclipse
Left, a normal Full Moon. Right, a Full Moon during a penumbral eclipse.

Find all the details about the March lunar eclipse (e.g., visibility, timetable, and observation tips) in our dedicated article.

March Full Moon Name

What is a Worm Moon?

The Full Moons' names reflect the peculiarities of the lunar months in which they occur. For example, in America and Europe, the Full Moon in March is called the Worm Moon because this month, the earthworms start to appear in the soil which finally warms up after the cold winter season. By the way, worms attract robins and other birds, who are truly the sign of spring! Another “spring sign” that you’ll witness two weeks after the March Full Moon is the March equinox. Astronomically speaking, it marks the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.

Worm Moon
The Full Moon in March is called the Worm Moon. Learn what the names of the other Full Moons mean.

Paschal Moon 2024

This year, the March Full Moon is the first Full Moon after the March equinox (which occurs on March 20), so it can be also called the Paschal Full Moon. The Christian holiday Easter always occurs on the first Sunday following the Paschal Full Moon; in 2024, Easter will fall on March 31.

March Full Moon alternative names

What about other parts of the world, besides America and Europe? Here are some examples of what the Full Moon in March is called in other cultures:

  • Chinese: Sleepy Moon
  • Celtic: Moon of Winds
  • Wicca: Chaste Moon
  • Cherokee: Windy Moon
  • Southern Hemisphere: Harvest Moon, Corn Moon

Learn the names of the other Full Moons from our colorful infographic.

Full Moons in 2024
When is the next Full Moon in 2024? When is the Super Blue Moon this year? Check our Full Moon calendar for all dates, times, names, Supermoons, and more for the year.
See Infographic

Last Micromoon of 2024

A Micromoon occurs when a Full Moon coincides with the apogee, the point at which the Moon is farthest from the Earth. This celestial event implies that the Moon will appear slightly smaller than usual in the sky. According to the calendar created by former NASA astrophysicist Fred Espenak, the Full Moon in March 2024 will become the second and last Micromoon of the year. Refer to our Supermoons & Micromoons infographic for a visual comparison of a Supermoon and Micromoon with an ordinary Moon.

Supermoons & Micromoons
What is a Supermoon and a Micromoon? When to observe our natural satellite at its biggest and brightest? Take a look at this infographic to find it out!
See Infographic

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon, known as the Pink Moon, will take place on April 23, 2024, at 23:49 GMT. We’ll explain the story behind this name and provide other useful information about it closer to the date.

Full Moons 2024 2.0

When is the next Worm Moon?

The Worm Moon is a traditional name for the March Full Moon, so the next Full Worm Moon after March 25, 2024, will occur on March 14, 2025, at 06:55 GMT (1:55 a.m. EST).

Worm Moon 2024: Key takeaways

In March 2024, the Full Moon will occur on March 25, at 07:00 GMT (2:00 a.m. EST). It is traditionally called the Worm Moon; this year, it can also be called the Paschal Full Moon, as it occurs after the March equinox. Moreover, in 2024, the Full Worm Moon will coincide with a penumbral lunar eclipse and become the second and last Micromoon of the year. Use the Sky Tonight app to find out when the Full Moon will rise in your location, and stay up-to-date with astronomy news by following us on social media.

We wish you clear skies and happy stargazing!

Topics:Moon
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