March's full worm moon snakes through a subtle lunar eclipse in stunning images

March's full moon, or worm moon, appeared 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, the wormhole moon featured a less dramatic lunar eclipse. The moon slid into the Earth's outer shadow, late Sunday night, early Monday morning.

Skywatchers in North America and South America were in the best position to observe this penumbral eclipse in preparation for the main event of a total solar eclipse next month, but that didn't stop skywatchers around the world from snapping stunning images of the wormhole moon.

Related: Full moon in March 2024: vermis lunar eclipse
Read more: Lunar eclipse 2024: when, where and how to see them?

Since the Moon resides only in Earth's light outer shadow during a penumbral eclipse, the effect of this event is a slight dimming of our lunar companion. This means that this event may be difficult to see and capture in a photo.

NASA's chart shows the exact difference between the Moon normally and then during a penumbral eclipse (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

The delicate nature of the penumbral eclipse did not prevent Space.org reader Daniel McCartney from photographing it as it occurred over Syracuse, New York, early Monday morning.

“I thought I'd share a photo of the maximum penumbral lunar eclipse I took this morning over Syracuse, New York,” Daniel wrote.

A stunning image of the partial eclipse at maximum intensity early Monday, March 25, 2024, captured by Daniel McCartney. (Image credit: Daniel McCartney)

There was certainly no sign of the moon being darkened by Earth's shadow when the worm moon made its way out from behind the EdgeNYC observation deck at Hudson Yards in New York in a photo taken from Hoboken, New Jersey.

READ The largest cosmic map may upend dark energy and prove Einstein wrong

The Worm Moon rises behind the EdgeNYC observation deck at Hudson Yards on March 24, 2024 (Photo source: Lukman Vural Ilibol/Anadolu/Getty Images)

The full worm moon took on a more subdued yellow color when it was captured behind the Empire State Building tower, also in New York City, and visible from Hoboken.

The worm moon rises behind the Empire State Building in New York City on March 24, 2024, as seen from Hoboken, New Jersey. (Image credit: Gary Hirschorn/Getty Images)

X user and proud New Yorker Max Giuliani Footage of the worm moon was captured rising next to one of the city's famous landmarks: the two Manhattan Bridges, which cross the East River.

March's full worm moon rises behind the Manhattan Bridges #NYC pic.twitter.com/wn4Lbler2xMarch 25, 2024

Max also photographed the March full moon rising between the buildings of 42nd Street in New York City, and shared the photo on his X site.

Last night's full moon rising across 42nd Street #NYC pic.twitter.com/T4Y7YjQx6eMay 6, 2023

San Francisco is home to a slightly more famous bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge, which frames a cloud-covered full moon glowing orange in this stunning photo.

A wormhole moon over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California, USA on March 24, 2024. (Image credit: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu/Getty Images)

Back on X, amateur photographer and astronomy/science buff Susan Snow He posted a stunning time-lapse video of the worm moon rising above trees in England.

The gorgeous worm moon rises this evening…. #FullMoon #FullWormMoon #WormMoon #Moon pic.twitter.com/RVoYfQtXPyMarch 24, 2024

READ Harvard astronomers explain the mysterious warping of the Milky Way

The worm turns!

The name “Worm Moon” was initially thought to refer to the appearance of earthworms in the soil, inviting birds to land and feed and serving as a sign of the arrival of spring.

This idea has been challenged by historical research, According to the calendar, suggesting that “Worm Moon” actually refers to a different type of “worm” – beetle larvae. These creatures begin to emerge in March when tree bark melts, destroying their winter hideouts.

There was nothing resembling a worm, whether beetle larvae or earthworms, about the full moon when it appeared in the skies of Istanbul, Turkey, on March 24, 2024. The giant, fiery-red full moon was caught between the two signs of the moon. Al-Fatih Mosque.

The effect seen in this image almost replicates the red color the Moon takes on during a total lunar eclipse, which occurs when the Moon passes into the darker inner region of the Earth's shadow, the umbra.

The full moon rises over the Fatih Mosque in Istanbul, Türkiye on March 24, 2024. (Image credit: Sa Terli/Anadolu/Getty Images)

An almost full moon was a less terrifying sight for one cheerful passerby in L'Aquila, Italy, on Saturday evening.

A passerby reacts to the full moon as seen in L'Aquila, Italy, on March 23, 2024. (Image credit: Lorenzo Di Cola/Noor Photo/Getty Images)

Earth's shadow wasn't the only thing obscuring the full moon Sunday evening. An airplane inadvertently obscures a small portion of the full moon while capturing it over Istanbul, Turkey.

A plane is seen flying as the full moon rises and lights up the sky in Istanbul, Turkey on March 23, 2024. (Image credit: Isa Terli/Anadolu/Getty Images)

X user Rami Ammonwho uses the handle “@rami_astro,” captured a stunningly bright photo of the worm moon from Nashville, Tennessee.

Full worm moon tonight 🪱🌕 pic.twitter.com/YN3ZC5ST9ZMarch 25, 2024

READ This stunning dark nebula looks like a cosmic sentinel watching the stars: ScienceAlert

In Tehata, West Bengal, India, a worm moon was seen peaking through gaps in leaves and branches on Sunday evening.

The worm moon appears through gaps in tree branches and leaves in a forest in Tehata, West Bengal, India, on March 24, 2024. (Image credit: Soumyabrata Roy/Noor Photo/Getty Images)

If these photos of the worm moon make you as hungry as a spring robin and hoping to catch a photo of the next full moon, you won't have long to wait. Next month's full moon, the Pink Moon, will rise on April 23, 2024.

If you want to take a closer look at the Moon after seeing these stunning images, our guides to the best telescopes and best binoculars are a great place to start.

Whether you want 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 a photo of Wolf Moon and want to share it with her Space.com websiteReaders, send your photo(s), comments, name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

Lona Woodrowe

“Typical beer advocate. Future teen idol. Unapologetic tv practitioner. Music trailblazer.”

March's full worm moon snakes through a subtle lunar eclipse in stunning images

Boeing May Not Be Able to Operate Starliner Before Space Station Is Destroyed

How did black holes get so big and so fast? The answer lies in the darkness

UNC student to become youngest woman to cross space on Blue Origin

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

More Stories

Boeing May Not Be Able to Operate Starliner Before Space Station Is Destroyed

How did black holes get so big and so fast? The answer lies in the darkness

UNC student to become youngest woman to cross space on Blue Origin