AARP Eye Center
Hey there, look up to the sky! Witness the celestial orb of slightly increased brightness! The moon, it's made of snow, you know. Probably. And, it's full of moon stuff. Oh, the horror. Let the lunar lunacy commence! For the moon reigns supreme! 🌝
When to See the Full Moon in February 2025
[source: almanac.com]
February’s full Snow Moon reaches peak illumination at 8:53 A.M. EST on Wednesday, February 12. It will be below the horizon at this time, so for the best view of this Moon, look for it starting the night before or later on Wednesday; it will drift above the horizon in the east around sunset and reach its highest point in the sky around midnight. The best viewing opportunities will be on Tuesday night and Wednesday night.
The Snow Moon
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. It is named after the heavy snowfall that typically occurs during this month. On average, February is the United States’ snowiest month, according to data from the National Weather Service. In the 1760s, Captain Jonathan Carver, who had visited with the Naudowessie (Dakota), wrote that the name used for this period was the Snow Moon, “because more snow commonly falls during this month than any other in the winter.”
Alternative February Moon Names
The full Snow Moon has also been called the Bald Eagle Moon, Bear Moon, Black Bear Moon, Raccoon Moon, Groundhog Moon, and Goose Moon.
Names for this month’s Moon have historically had a connection to animals. The Cree traditionally called this the Bald Eagle Moon or Eagle Moon. The Ojibwe Bear Moon and Tlingit Black Bear Moon refer to the time when bear cubs are born. The Dakota also call this the Raccoon Moon; certain Algonquin peoples named it the Groundhog Moon, and the Haida named it Goose Moon.
Another theme of this month’s Moon names is scarcity. The Cherokee names of Month of the Bony Moon and Hungry Moon give evidence to the fact that food was hard to come by at this time.
Additional Info:
Visible planets and night sky guide for February [source: earthsky.org]
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Spot the Full Snow Moon!
The snow moon is so beautiful tonight. Here's a picture of said snow moon. [see below]
There's quite a bit of snow on the ground to compliment its' glowiness. Gotta wear night shades to see it. (>ᴗ•)
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