How February's full moon is linked to snowy weather
February is one of the coldest and snowiest months across North America before the arrival of spring, and the wintry end to the season inspires the upcoming astronomical sight.
The Snow Moon will illuminate the night sky during the new week, with the full moon visible on Tuesday night. It will continue to look full on Wednesday night, giving folks two opportunities to see the event.
Clear, wintry nights are ideal for stargazing as there is less moisture in the atmosphere than during other seasons, resulting in crisper views of the moon, planets and stars.
The full snow moon rises, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, near Redmond, Ore. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
The Snow Moon is just one of many nicknames for February's full moon, which also goes by other names, such as the Groundhog Moon, the Hungry Moon, the Bald Eagle Moon and the Bear Moon.
"Across time, full Moons were used to track the seasons. It was a method of timekeeping. The full Moons were often given special names that reflected nature's signs," the Old Farmer's Almanac explained on its website.
While people are outside, they should also look for the ongoing planetary parade featuring Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Venus and Saturn.
•Have the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts™ with Premium+
Despite the nicknames, the upcoming full moon will look like a typical full moon, but the next one will be much more impressive and worth staying up late to see.
A total lunar eclipse will unfold during the next full moon on the night of Thursday, March 13, into the early morning of Friday, March 14. During the height of the eclipse, the moon will turn red, an event that will be visible across all of North America, weather permitting.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Missed the Strawberry Moon last night? Here's where, when to see it tonight in Illinois
Many people across the country photographed the Strawberry Moon this morning, watching as the moon reached its peak at 2:44 a.m. CT. But don't worry if you missed it – the phenomenon will still be partially visible tonight. Avid skywatchers can also spot the Milky Way, the "bright central bulge of our galaxy," writes NASA, which should be visible through August. Here's what stargazers in Illinois should know. Tuesday, June 10, 2025, into Wednesday early morning hours is when the sweet Strawberry Moon was at its fullest, but it'll still appear mostly full Wednesday night. The moon's phases in June are: 🌓 First Quarter: June 3 🌕 Full Moon: June 11 🌗 Last Quarter: June 18 🌑 New Moon: June 25 June's Strawberry moon will be the lowest full moon in roughly 20 years, so look closer toward the horizon. Experts say the moon's low arc should give it a more yellowish or orange tint. Story continues after photo gallery. The reason the moon will appear lower is because the Earth is in the midst of "a major lunar standstill," writes EarthSky, which has to do with the moon's orbit around the Earth. "It's all about the inclination of the moon's orbit, which undergoes an 18.6-year cycle," writes EarthSky's John Jardine Goss. "The cycle happens because the moon's orbit is being slowly dragged around — mostly due to the pull of the sun — every 18.6 years." The last major lunar standstill occurred in 2006. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, moonrise for the Peoria area will happen by roughly 9:28 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, crossing the meridian at 12:52 a.m. before setting at 5:12 a.m. Thursday. You can check moonrise and moonset times for your zip code by visiting the Old Farmer's Almanac online. Skies in central Illinois are expected to be partly cloudy Wednesday night, June 11, with a low of around 64 and winds around 7 mph, according to an advanced forecast from the National Weather Service. Similar to the Pink Moon, June's Strawberry Moon takes its name from seasonal plant growth, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Many ripening berries were ready to be harvested around this time in the northeastern United States. Other names for June's full moon from Native American tribes include the Birth Moon, Hot Moon, Blooming Moon, and the Green Corn Moon. The Milky Way can best be viewed somewhere far away from bright city lights. Find a dark, safe spot out in the country where you can see more stars in the sky. State parks and campgrounds are your best bet for clear stargazing, in locations such as Campsite 26 at Apple River Canyon State Park and the Area 4 Parking Lot at Iroquois County State Wildlife Area. A full list of the best stargazing spots in Illinois can be found on the Department of Natural Resources website. For those in Chicago, stars will be more visible on the city lakefront, the Palos Preserves in Willow Springs and the 606 Trail at 1801 N. Ridgeway, according to a list compiled by the Adler Planetarium. If you plan on observing the night sky this month, writes NASA, keep the following dates in mind for June 2025: June 16, 17 – Mars & Regulus – Mars passes closer to the bright bluish-white star Regulus, known as the "heart" of the lion constellation, Leo. They will appear about as far apart as the width of the full moon, and should be easy to spot with binoculars or a small telescope. June 19 – Moon & Saturn – The third-quarter moon appears right next to Saturn on Thursday morning in the hours before dawn, according to NASA. They rise in the east together at around 1:30 a.m. June 20 – June Solstice – The summer solstice is on June 20 in the northern hemisphere, tilting its maximum toward the Sun. This means the Sun will travel its longest, highest arc across the sky all year, writes NASA, resulting in the longest period of daylight for those north of the equator. June 21-30 – Mercury becomes visible – For those with a clear view to the western horizon, Mercury becomes visible for a brief period each evening at the end of June. Look for it to appear low in the sky starting 30 to 45 minutes after the Sun sets. June 22 – Moon & Venus – Venus rises this morning next to a slender and elegant crescent moon. Look for them in the east between about 3 a.m. and sunrise. All month – Mars: The Red Planet can be observed for a couple of hours after dark all month. It is noticeably dimmer than it appeared in early May, as Earth speeds away in its orbit, putting greater distance between the two worlds. All month – Milky Way core: The bright central bulge of our home galaxy, the Milky Way, is visible all night through August. It is best observed from dark sky locations far from bright city lights, and appears as a faint, cloud-like band arching across the sky toward the south. The following free astronomy apps can help you locate stars, planets, and constellations. SkyView Lite for iPhone | Google Play Star Walk 2 for iPhone | Google Play Star Chart for iPhone | Google Play for iPhone | Google Play The full Buck Moon should reach peak illumination by Thursday, July 10, 2025. Julia Gomez contributed to this article. This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Strawberry Moon 2025: weather forecast, moonrise time, spots to see Milky Way
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Milwaukee is finally seeing sunsets after 8:30 p.m.
After a bitter cold winter and not-so-warm spring, Milwaukeeans can finally start soaking up the summer sun. Aside from hot weather, another telltale sign of the season is late sunsets. Milwaukee reached that milestone on June 10, when the sun set at 8:30 p.m. for the first time in 2025. Here's what to know: Milwaukee's latest sunset will be at 8:35 p.m. in 2025. That is expected to happen on several days, the first of which is June 25, according to More: When can you see June's full moon in Wisconsin? Milwaukee will see 8:30 p.m. sunsets until July 12, according to Milwaukee will see 8 p.m. sunsets until Aug. 10, according to Milwaukee's longest day happens on the summer solstice, which is usually on June 20 or 21. The summer solstice is on June 20 this year. More: Summer is almost here. What to know about the start of the 2025 season in Wisconsin The summer solstice marks the start of astronomical summer, and is also the longest day of the year, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac. The solstice happens when the sun is at its "highest and northernmost points" in the sky. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: When is the latest sunset in Milwaukee in 2025?
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Here's what ‘Old Farmer's Almanac' is predicting for summer 2025 in New Mexico
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Summer is right around the corner, and the 'Old Farmer's Almanac' has released its predictions on what type of weather is in store for the season. Across the country, predictions indicate a gradual buildup to record-breaking heat. June temperatures will be near normal in most regions; however, July and August will bring above-normal temperatures across most regions, except for the northwest and southern Florida. When does monsoon season start in New Mexico? What you can expect this summer In the southwest, summer is predicted to be hotter and drier than normal, with the hottest periods in mid-June and mid-to-late July, according to the almanac. In terms of precipitation, rainfall across most of the country will range from near to slightly below normal, particularly in the western half. The 'Old Farmer's Almanac' predicts below-normal precipitation for the desert southwest in June and July. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
