Lunar Perigee — The Full Worm Moon

Tonight the moon appeared fourteen percent larger than it appears at apogee.
This happens about once every eighteen years.

March gives us the Full Worm Moon. The Old Farmer's Almanac writes:

As the temperature begins to warm and the ground begins to thaw, earthworm casts appear, heralding the return of the robins. The more northern tribes knew this Moon as the Full Crow Moon, when the cawing of crows signaled the end of winter; or the Full Crust Moon, because the snow cover becomes crusted from thawing by day and freezing at night. The Full Sap Moon, marking the time of tapping maple trees, is another variation. To the settlers, it was also known as the Lenten Moon, and was considered to be the last full Moon of winter.

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Full Sap Moon II

Driving to school, I captured the March full moon over the Barton River and the hills.
Moon Set

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Full Sap Moon

photo by Matt

March's full moon is called the Full Sap Moon because it "marks the time when maple sap begins to flow and the annual tapping of maple trees begins." It is also called the Full Worm Moon: "At the time of this spring Moon, the ground begins to soften and earthworm casts reappear, inviting the return of robins." (source: Old Farmer's Almanac)

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