The Night Sky

There's something about the night sky that has always fascinated me. I think it's because the night sky is always changing. It's super cool to see different stars and planets, and different phases of the moon. Every time you look up it's like you see something new. Each month different full moons have different nicknames, so let's dive into what makes February's full moon so special!

The Full Snow Moon

February's full moon is the Snow Moon, and what also makes February's full moon unique is not only is it the Snow Moon, but it's also a micro moon (more on that in just a minute). So why is it called the Snow Moon? Well, let's dive in!

Photo by Alexander Andrews on Unsplash

According to Almanac, there's a fairly straightforward answer as to why February's moon is the Snow Moon, it's because typically February is the snowiest month in the U.S.

The explanation behind February’s full Moon name is a fairly straightforward one: it’s known as the Snow Moon due to the typically heavy snowfall that occurs in February. On average, February is the United States’ snowiest month, according to data from the National Weather Service.

February's Moon is Also a Micro Moon

What also makes February's full moon a little extra special is that it is a micro moon. What is a micro moon?

Photo by Yan Laurichesse on Unsplash

According to Full Moon Phases, a micro moon is when the moon appears smaller to the naked eye due to its distance from Earth.

A Micro Moon is the phenomenon where the moon is a “Full Moon” and is at its farthest point from earth during its yearly orbit, resulting in the appearance of a smaller and dimmer than normal moon (at least from our viewpoint). More specifically, a Micro Moon is the coincidence of a Full Moon or a New Moon with the farthest approach the Moon makes to the Earth on its elliptical orbit, resulting in the smallest apparent size of the lunar disk as seen from Earth. For comparison purposes NASA, a Supermoon is up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than a Micro Moon.

When to See the Full Snow Micro Moon

According to Almanac, the full Snow Moon will reach peak illumination at 7:30 AM EST on February 24th. They say for the best time to see the moon at the night sky on Friday night or later on Saturday evening.