At sunset a magnificent spectacle awaits us in the sky: the so-called Snow Moon it will reach its peak, i.e. the full moon, in the next few hours (it rises at 5.48 pm) and will be clearly visible until its sunset scheduled for dawn tomorrow morning (6.57 am), Sunday 25 February.
Why is it called Snow Moon
According to the United States Farmers’ Almanac, the name derives from the fact that February is, par excellence, a fully winter month: on average, in fact, it is the snowiest month in the United States according to data from the National Weather Service. In 1760, Captain Jonathan Carver, an early explorer of North America, wrote that the name used for this period was Snow Moon“for commonly more snow falls during this month than in any other winter month“. Among the alternative names given by the Native Americans we also record Bald Eagle Moon or Eagle Moon as well as the Bear Moon to remember the moment in which bear cubs are born.
Why it will be a “micromoon”
If it is true that our satellite will reach the largest and most visible form, it will still be a “micromoon“because it may seem smaller than usual. Why?”It will be a little further from Earth than it normally is“, he declared to the CNN Rachel Klima, a planetary geologist and lunar expert at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland. “It will be 10% smaller than normal – he added – But most of the time, when people see a really huge Moon, it’s usually because it’s low on the horizon compared to its actual distance from Earth“, said Klima. Don’t worry: this micromoon will be only a little smaller than the Supermoon (which is 14% larger) but up to 30% dimmer.
How to observe it
It will be the last full moon in winter before the next one scheduled for March 25: expert astronomers explain that the moment we will see it brightest in the night sky will be next to the constellation Virgo. As always in these cases, no special equipment is provided for its observation: with the naked eye or with binoculars “for those who wish to clearly see its features and craters”, said the geologist. Also in this case, moreover, the difference will be made by the weather: it will not be easy to see it from north to south due to bad weather but, where the clouds give a break, the show will, as always, be evocative and not to be missed. Another secret is to go to areas far from population centers: light pollution, in part, may make your observation less bright. Those who don’t want to leave home will be able to watch the event live, which will be launched on social media.