March’s full moon is named the Worm Moon by Native American tribes (via The Maine Farmers’ Almanac), referencing earthworm activity as spring begins.
Alternate names include Crow Moon (cawing crows), Crust Moon (thawing snow), and Sap Moon (maple tapping).
Timing: Begins March 13, 11:57 PM EDT; totality (2:26–3:31 AM EDT on March 14) turns the Moon reddish-brown due to sunlight refracted through Earth’s atmosphere (“Blood Moon” effect).
Best viewed in North America; Moon appears fully illuminated from March 12 evening to March 15 morning.
Coincides with the spring equinox (March 20), marking longer daylight hours. Part of a rare celestial trifecta: Worm Moon, eclipse, and planetary alignments.
Venus & Mercury: Transition from evening to morning skies; Venus reemerges post-conjunction on March 21.
Look for Orion, Capella, Spica, and Pollux in March. Regulus (Leo’s brightest star) and Antares (Scorpius) align with the Moon during specific phases.
Watch for Mars-Pollux conjunctions (March 30) and the Moon’s dance with the Pleiades (April 1).
The Worm Moon name reflects regional ecology: Southern U.S. earthworms vs. glacier-impacted northern regions.
April 8: Mercury-Saturn dawn conjunction.
April 12: Next full moon (Pink Moon) aligns with the International Day of Human Space Flight.