We may be experiencing some of the darkest evenings of the year but this weekend it’s worth stepping outside to experience the ‘Super Snow Moon’ light up the sky.
For those areas with snow on the ground it’s sure to be a spectacular sight as the snow moon is one of the largest moons.
The February full moon will reach its peak at 2:33 a.m. EST on Sunday, February 9, according to NASA.
“For the best view of this moon, look for it on the night of Saturday, February 8; it will rise in the east and reach its highest point in the sky around midnight,” explains the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
The ‘Snow Moon’ is the most common nickname for February’s full moon, but others include the Hunger Moon, the Bone Moon and the Storm Moon, according to WTSP.com.
“Traditionally, the moon we see in February is called the Snow Moon due to the typically heavy snowfall of February,” the Old Farmer’s Almanac explained on its website.
Some experts describe this weekend’s Snow Moon as the first in a series of supermoons.
A supermoon is when the moon is closest to the Earth so it appears larger than normal.
This week’s celestial event is the first of four supermoons set for 2020, the next three will be in March, April and May.
Heavy snow that falls this season
The February full moon called the snow moon was an important role in Native American culture.
“As the midwinter moon or the second full moon of winter, the Native American tribes of what is now the northern and eastern United States called this the Snow Moon or the Hunger Moon,” explains NASA. “It was known as the Snow Moon because of the heavy snows that fall in this season.”
Share this article to remind people to look up into the sky this weekend and enjoy the glorious sight.
