A “Full Worm Moon” Is Happening on March 9

This year’s first supermoon is almost here! The Full Worm Moon will brighten the night sky on Monday, March 9.

Since Native Americans named full moons to track seasons, the names often correlate with nature. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, one of the most popular names for March’s full moon is the “Full Worm Moon ” because as the weather warms and the ground softens, earthworms begin to appear, attracting robins—a sign of spring. Since the cawing of crows signals the end of winter, another name for March’s full moon is the “Full Crow Moon.” The full moon is also called the “Full Sap Moon” because the sap of sugar maple trees begins to flow around this time.

The Full Worm Moon will be the first of three supermoons in 2020, according to EarthSky. This means that the full moon will coincide with perigee, the point in the moon’s orbit at which it’s closest to Earth. When the moon’s at perigee, it appears brighter and larger than a standard full moon. The Full Worm Moon will be this year’s second-closest full moon to Earth.

When’s the best time to see it? The moon will appear full from dusk until dawn on both March 8 and March 9. It’ll reach its peak fullness at 1:48 p.m. EDT on Monday. So give spring an early welcome and gaze at this year’s brightest full moon yet.