How to Witness the Spectacular Worm Moon Lunar Eclipse

Sign up for CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter to stay updated on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements, and more.

Get ready to witness a glowing worm moon lighting up the sky on Monday during a penumbral lunar eclipse. It will be a celestial performance for those venturing out in the early morning hours.

March's full moon, known as the worm moon by the Farmers' Almanac because it is close to the spring equinox, will reach its peak at 3 a.m. ET.

A few hours before, beginning at 12:53 a.m. ET, the moon will align nearly perfectly with the sun and Earth, resulting in Earth's shadow, called the penumbra, being cast on the bright orb.

The moon looks slightly darker during a 2023 penumbral lunar eclipse in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. On Monday, the lunar event will begin at 12:53 a.m. ET.

The moon looks slightly darker during a 2023 penumbral lunar eclipse in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. On Monday, the lunar event will begin at 12:53 a.m. ET.

At 3:12 a.m. ET, during the greatest eclipse, the moon will look a bit darker than usual, according to Dr. Shannon Schmoll, director of the Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University.

The upcoming worm moon will showcase a subtle gradient of darkening from one side to the other, according to Schmoll. Although the change in brightness won't be overly dramatic, keen observers may notice slight variations while watching the moon.

Named by Native American tribes due to the emergence of beetle larvae and other creatures from hibernation in the spring, the worm moon will be visible to people worldwide as it appears full for a couple of days.

The penumbral eclipse can only be seen by people on the night side of Earth during the event. This includes Europe, North and East Asia, Australia, Africa, North America, and South America. The lunar eclipse is expected to end at 5:33 a.m. ET, as reported by EarthSky.

orig mclaughlin what is a solar eclipse _00005317.jpg

orig mclaughlin what is a solar eclipse _00005317.jpg

Related article

What to expect during April’s total solar eclipse

About two weeks before the total solar eclipse on April 8 that will pass through Mexico, the United States, and Canada, there will be a penumbral eclipse. According to Schmoll, lunar and solar eclipses always happen in pairs because of the alignment of the sun, Earth, and moon. During the penumbral eclipse, the full moon will be in Earth's shadow. The upcoming new moon phase will set the stage for the solar eclipse, where the moon will come between the sun and Earth, blocking the sun's face from view.

During an "eclipse season," which happens about every six months near the equinoxes, there is a 35-day period where the alignment of the three celestial bodies required for eclipses is nearly perfect, as explained by NASA.

A lunar eclipse does not occur every month during a full moon. This is because the moon's orbital plane is tilted by about 5 degrees. As a result, for most full moons, the shadow of the Earth will either be just below or just above the moon, according to Schmoll.

Ring-tailed lemurs look on as children view a solar eclipse at the Japan Monkey Center in Inuyama city in Aichi prefecture, central Japan on May 21, 2012. Millions turned their eyes to the sky on both sides of the Pacific to gaze excitedly as a solar eclipse created a "ring of fire" at dawn in Asia and crept towards a darkening western US. AFP PHOTO / JIJI PRESS JAPAN OUT (Photo by JIJI PRESS / JIJI PRESS / AFP) (Photo by JIJI PRESS/JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images)

Ring-tailed lemurs watch as children observe a solar eclipse at the Japan Monkey Center in Inuyama city, Aichi prefecture, central Japan on May 21, 2012. Many people looked up at the sky in excitement as a solar eclipse created a "ring of fire" in Asia and moved towards a darkening western US. Millions of eyes were glued to the sky on both sides of the Pacific. (Photo by JIJI PRESS/JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images)

Related article

Some perplexing animal mysteries stumped scientists during the 2017 eclipse. Here’s why

A penumbral eclipse may not be as dramatic as a total lunar eclipse, but you don't need any special equipment to see it. Unlike solar eclipses that require viewing glasses, **lunar **eclipse****s can be seen with just your naked eye.

All you have to do is go outside with a clear view of the moon during the eclipse," Schmoll explained. "It's a great opportunity to step outside, look up at the sky, and appreciate the wonders of the universe and what we can observe from Earth."

Solar and **lunar **eclipse****s

In 2024, there are four eclipse events to look forward to. The most anticipated one is the total solar eclipse happening on April 8. Another event to watch out for is the annular solar eclipse on October 2, which will be visible over parts of South America. This type of eclipse is similar to a total solar eclipse, but with a twist - the moon is at its farthest point from Earth in its orbit, so it can't completely cover the sun. Instead, during an annular solar eclipse, a "ring of fire" is created in the sky as the sun's fiery light surrounds the moon's shadow.

A partial lunar eclipse will be visible over Europe and much of Asia, Africa, North America, and South America between September 17 and 18. This occurs when Earth moves between the sun and the full moon without being perfectly aligned.

If you want to know the exact timing of these eclipses, you can visit Time and Date’s website for more information.

A red giant star and white dwarf orbit each other in this animation of a nova.

A red giant star and white dwarf orbit each other in this animation of a nova.

NASA/Conceptual Image Lab/Goddard Space Flight Center

Related article

Explosive star event will create once-in-a-lifetime sight in the sky. Here’s how to see it

More full moons this year

In 2024, two of the 12 full moons, in September and October, will be known as supermoons, as reported by EarthSky.

A supermoon is typically a full moon that appears larger and brighter in the night sky because it is closer to Earth than usual. Some experts define a supermoon as when the moon is within 90% of its closest point to Earth in its orbit, also known as perigee.

Here are the remaining full moons of 2024:

• April 23: Pink moon

• May 23: Flower moon

• June 21: Strawberry moon

• July 21: Buck moon

• August 19: Sturgeon moon

• September 17: Harvest moon

• October 17: Hunter’s moon

• November 15: Beaver moon

• December 15: Cold moon

NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft captured these views of Uranus (on the left) and Neptune (on the right) during its flybys of the planets in the 1980s.

NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft captured these views of Uranus (on the left) and Neptune (on the right) during its flybys of the planets in the 1980s.

NASA/JPL-Caltech/B. Jónsson

Related article

Astronomers discover 3 previously unknown moons orbiting planets in our solar system

Meteor showers of 2024

Skygazers have exciting opportunities to witness numerous meteor showers this year, as forecasted by the American Meteor Society. Mark your calendars for these upcoming peak dates:

• Lyrids: April 21-22

• Eta Aquariids: May 4-5

• Southern delta Aquariids: July 29-30

• Alpha Capricornids: July 30-31

• Perseids: August 11-12

• Draconids: October 7-8

• Orionids: October 20-21

• Southern Taurids: November 4-5

• Northern Taurids: November 11-12

• Leonids: November 17-18

• Geminids: December 13-14

• Ursids: December 21-22

Editor's P/S:

The upcoming celestial events of 2024 promise an enchanting spectacle in the night sky. The "worm moon" on Monday offers a chance to witness a penumbral lunar eclipse, while April's total solar eclipse will be a captivating experience for viewers in North America. These astronomical occurrences showcase the intricate interplay of our solar system and remind us of our place within the boundless universe.

Furthermore, the year holds multiple full moons, supermoons, and meteor showers, providing ample opportunities for skygazing enthusiasts. The full moons, each carrying traditional names like the "pink moon" and "strawberry moon," offer a glimpse into the cultural significance of celestial events. The meteor showers, with their radiant bursts of light, create a sense of wonder and awe, reminding us of the cosmic debris that surrounds our planet. These celestial events not only provide stunning visual experiences but also inspire scientific curiosity and a deeper appreciation for the natural world.