Full Moon: Why 2020 is a special year to see one

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There’s something magical about skygazing on a clear night, being able to marvel at all the stars shining bright above. On some special nights, one celestial body reigns the sky: the full moon. With the nights getting warmer, spring is a great time to go out and try to spot a full moon in all its magnificent glory. In fact, 2020 is a special year of full moons. Here’s what you need to know, and the perfect time to see one. 

How to plan for a full moon sighting

From our vantage point on earth, we technically get to see a full moon once a month. Sometimes weather can disrupt our view — cloud cover tends to get in the way — so check the weather that night as an important first step to guaranteeing a good viewing experience. 

A full moon appears when the earth aligns between the sun and moon in a way that they differ by 180°. This cycle is also known as the lunar phase. During other parts of the month, the moon is covered to some degree by shadow, which is why you get only a partial view most of the time. If you ever find yourself wondering what stage of the lunar phase we’re in on any given night — is that really a full moon you see in the sky? — sites like space.com can help you identify all stages of the cycle.

Another way to plan seeing a full moon is to get supplies ready to see it as up close as possible. Some of these supplies may include a good pair of binoculars or even a telescope that will help you see fine details of the moon.

Once in a blue moon

We have all heard the phrase “once in a blue moon” to describe something rare and infrequent. But do you know the origins of the reference? It comes from the fact that sometimes we get to see a full moon twice in a month. When that special event happens, it is called a Blue Moon. A Blue Moon occurs only once every 2.5 years. This year, a Blue Moon will appear on October 31—a perfect eerie backdrop for Halloween, which happens to fall on a Sunday. If the sky is clear, kids and parents will get to trick or treat under the blue moon. How spooktacular. 

And speaking of rare moons, here’s a bit of trivia: February is the only month in the year that will never have a Blue Moon. The month does have its own special moon, however, known as the Snow Moon. (Ancient people also called it the Hunger Moon due to the difficulty they had in finding food during the harsh dead of winter.)

According to NASA, the reason behind the Snow Moon name is obvious: it’s based on the heavy snowfall in the season. On February 7, 2020, the Snow Moon was extra special because the moon was closest to the earth in its orbit. The moon was so big and bright that night that some scientists thought it may have even been a Snow Supermoon.

The full moons of 2020

If you want to plan your own full moon sightings for the year, here are the dates to remember:

• March 9, the Worm Moon

• April 7, the Pink Moon

• May 7, the Flower Moon

• June 5, the Strawberry Moon

• July 5, the Buck Moon

• August 3, the Sturgeon Moon

• September 2, the Corn Moon

• October 1, the Harvest Moon

• October 31, the Blue Moon

• November 30, the Beaver Moon

• December 29, the Cold Moon

A full moon is a gift from nature and a great reason to pull away from a phone, TV and other devices to go outside. When the weather is right, it’s an amazing show and one that is sure to mesmerize viewers of any age. (And if you miss a full moon, don’t worry. The moon stays roughly the same size two nights in a row.)

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