March’s full moon, the Worm Moon, rose above Earth on Sunday, March 24, exactly two weeks before the total solar eclipse that will sweep across North America on April 8, 2024.
Not to be left out of the eclipse action, the Worm Moon was marked by a slightly less dramatic lunar eclipse. The Moon moved into Earth’s outer shadow, the penumbra, late Sunday night into early Monday morning.
Skywatchers in North America and South America were in the best position to spot the warming of this penumbral eclipse for the main event of next month’s total solar eclipse, but that didn’t stop skywatchers around the world from capturing stunning images of the Worm Moon.
Relating to: March full moon 2024: Worm Moon eclipsed
Read more: Lunar eclipses 2024: When, where and how will they be seen?
Since the Moon remains only in the lighter outer shadow of the Earth during a penumbral eclipse, the effect of this event is a slight darkening of our lunar companion. This means that this event can be difficult to see and capture in an image.
The subtle nature of the penumbra eclipse didn’t stop Space.com reader Daniel McCartney from capturing it as it occurred over Syracuse, New York, early Monday morning.
“I thought I’d share the photo of the maximum penumbra lunar eclipse I took this morning over Syracuse, New York,” Daniel wrote.
In an image taken from Hoboken, New Jersey, as the Worm Moon snaked out from behind the EdgeNYC observation deck at Hudson Yards in New York, there was absolutely no sign that the Moon was obscured by the Earth’s shadow.
The full moon took on a softer yellow hue when captured from behind the spire of the Empire State Building in New York City and seen from Hoboken.
X user and proud New York native Max Guliani Images were captured of the Worm Moon rising next to another of the city’s famous landmarks: Manhattan’s Two Bridges, which span the East River.
Max also depicted the full moon in March rising between buildings on 42nd Street in New York City and shared the image on his X feed.
San Francisco is home to a slightly more famous bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge; A cloud-shrouded, orange-shining full moon is framed in this striking image.
Back on X, amateur photographer and astronomy/science hobbyist Susan Snow Worm has released an incredible time-lapse video of the Moon rising above trees in England.
The worm is spinning!
It was originally believed that the name “Worm Moon” referred to the emergence of worms in the soil, inviting birds to come ashore, feed, and act as a sign of the coming Spring.
This idea is disputed by historical research, which suggests that “Worm Moon” actually refers to insect larvae, a different type of “worm,” according to the Almanac. These creatures begin to emerge in March, as the bark of the trees melts and destroys their winter hiding places.
There was nothing worm-like, whether insect larvae or worms, in the full moon seen in the sky over Istanbul on March 24, 2024. The giant fiery red full moon was caught between the two towers of Istanbul. Fatih Mosque.
The effect seen in this image nearly replicates the red hue the moon takes on during a total lunar eclipse, which occurs when the moon passes into umbra, the darker inner region of Earth’s shadow.
It was a slightly less frightening sight for a joyful audience as the near-full moon approached in L’Aquila, Italy, on Saturday evening.
The Earth’s shadow wasn’t the only thing shadowing the full moon on Sunday evening. A plane unintentionally obscures a small portion of the full moon captured over Istanbul, Turkey.
user x Rami AmmounSomeone using the handle “@rami_astro” captured a surprisingly bright image of the Worm Moon from Nashville, Tennesse.
TOP TELESCOPE SELECTION:
Are you looking for a telescope to see the features of the Full Moon up close? In our guide to the best telescopes for beginners, we recommend the Celestron Astro Fi 102 as our top pick. Don’t forget the moon filter!
At Tehatta in the Indian state of West Bengal, the Worm Moon was seen peaking through gaps in leaves and branches on Sunday evening.
If these images of the Worm Moon tickle you as much as the spring Robin and you’re hoping to catch the next full moon image, you don’t have to wait long. Next month’s full moon, the Pink Moon, rises on April 23, 2024.
If you want to take a closer look at the moon after seeing these incredible photos, our guides to the best telescopes and best binoculars are a great place to start.
Whether you’re looking to photograph the moon or explore the night sky in general, check out our guide on how to photograph the moon, as well as our recommendations for the best cameras for astrophotography and the best lenses for astrophotography.
Editor’s Note: If you take an image of the Wolf Bear and would like to share it space.comSend readers your photos, comments, name and location to: spacephotos@space.com.