A full 'supermoon' will be visible over Canadian skies tonight

Mar 9 2020, 4:09 pm

Tonight’s full moon has many names (Crow Moon, Crust Moon, Sap Moon, Sugar Moon, Worm Moon, Lenten Moon, Medin Poya, a Supermoon, and Purnima) but regardless of what you call it, it’ll be mighty pretty.

According to NASA, the moon will be fullest at 2:30 am (Tuesday morning) but will remain so into Wednesday morning.

Tonight’s moon will appear slightly larger and brighter in the sky, a term officially known as “perigee.”

“The term ‘Supermoon’ was coined by the astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979 and refers to either a new or full moon that occurs when the Moon is within 90% of perigee, its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit,” says NASA. “By this definition, in a typical year, there can be three or four full Supermoons in a row.”

NASA advises that the wearing of what they call “suitably celebratory celestial attire” is encouraged in honour of tonight’s super full moon.

Bill Ingall/NASA

As per NASA, tonight’s full moon is the last full moon of winter.

“This moon is called the crow moon, crust moon, sap moon, sugar moon, or worm moon. The more northern tribes of the northeastern United States knew this as the crow moon, when the cawing of crows signalled the end of winter.”

Other northern names are the crust moon, because the snow cover becomes crusted from thawing by day and freezing by night, or the dap (or dugar) moon as this is the time for tapping maple trees.

Southern tribes called this the worm moon after the earthworms that appear as the ground begins to thaws.

Regardless of its name, NASA says another supermoon will occur in April, appearing 0.1% closer and brighter than it will tonight.

Ty JadahTy Jadah

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