Worm Moon 2026: When can you see March's full Moon and why is it special?

Listen up, stargazers. The first full Moon of meteorological spring, also known as the Worm Moon, will be visible in the night sky this week.

Not only that, but for some parts of the world, this month's full Moon coincides with a rare total lunar eclipse.

Many people living in the Americas, Asia, and Australia will see what's known as a Blood Moon.

However, the UK will sadly miss out this time around, as the Moon will be below the horizon whilst the shadow is being cast.

But what is a Blood Moon and when will we be able to see March's full Moon? Keep reading to find out..

"Blood Moon" describes the way the Moon looks during a total lunar eclipse.

This happens when the Moon is completely covered by Earth's shadow because the Earth has moved between the Moon and the Sun - blocking the Sun's light from reaching the Moon.

When this happens, the Moon looks a reddish colour - hence the name "Blood Moon."

Those most likely to see the phenomenon this week include sky gazers in parts of North America, South America, East Asia and Australia.

March's full Moon is often known as the Worm Moon in the Northern Hemisphere because it traditionally marks the time of year when earthworms start to wriggle about and emerge as the soil warms up in spring.

However, it is also sometimes referred to as the Crust Moon, the Crow Comes Back Moon or the Sore Eyes Moon, which refers to the blinding light of the Sun reflecting off the mountain snow.

It will reach its peak at 11.38am on Tuesday 3 March, according to the Royal Observatory Greenwich, although these timings can slightly change depending on where in the UK you are.

It will also look full in the days before and after the peak, so you might have an extra chance to spot it.

Throughout history, people have used the Moon and the light it reflects for different tasks such as hunting, planting and harvesting.

Cultures across the world give these full Moons different names to describe what was happening in the month.

The modern calendar no longer follows the Moon's phases exactly, so sometimes there's more than one full Moon a month, which is known as a Blue Moon.

Why not use our calendar below to find the name for your birth month's full Moon?

January: Wolf Moon

Native Americans and medieval Europeans called January's full Moon a Wolf Moon. It's thought to be because wolves howled more at this time of year, as there was less food.

February: Snow Moon

The snowy weather of February in North America led to the name Snow Moon. Other common names include Storm Moon and Hunger Moon.

March: Worm Moon

The Worm Moon appears in March at the end of winter when little creatures like worms begin squirming out of the ground. It's also called Crust Moon.

April: Pink Moon

Disappointingly, the Pink Moon isn't actually pink. It's named by Native Americans after pink flowers called wild ground phlox that bloom in early spring and appear throughout the United States and Canada.

It is also called Egg Moon and Fish Moon in other cultures.

May: Flower Moon

May's flowers are the reason for this month's name.

Other names include Hare Moon, Corn Planting Moon, and Milk Moon.

June: Strawberry Moon

Native American Algonquin tribes named this the Strawberry Moon. This is because they would harvest strawberries at this time.

It's also called the Honey Moon, Rose Moon and Mead Moon.

July: Buck Moon

This is the time when a buck, a male deer, grows its full antlers. This Moon is also called Thunder Moon after the summer thunderstorms.

August: Sturgeon Moon

People in North America caught sturgeons, a type of fish, around this time.

It is sometimes known as a Grain Moon, or Green Corn Moon or Black Cherries Moon in some cultures.

September: Corn Moon

If it is the nearest full Moon to the autumnal equinox, it is called the Harvest Moon instead.

September's full Moon is thought to be called Corn Moon because that's when crops are gathered at the end of the summer season.

At this time, the Moon appears particularly bright, allowing farmers to continue harvesting into the night.

October: Hunter's Moon

This is the time when people would plan for the winter months and hunt animals for food.

Like September's full Moon, it is sometimes called the Harvest Moon.

November: Beaver Moon

Beavers often start building their dams about this time, which is where it got its name.

It is also sometimes called Frost Moon.

December: Cold Moon

The winter chill gave December's full Moon the name Cold Moon.

Other names include the Long Night Moon and the Oak Moon.