Need to know
The Worm Moon, the third full Moon of 2026, will rise this week and light up the night sky. For some lucky sky watchers, the full Moon will turn red in a rare total lunar eclipse
Everything you need to know about this week’s spectacular Worm Moon
- March’s spectacular Worm Moon will dazzle UK skies this week, offering stargazers a brilliant celestial display on Monday and Tuesday nights.
- While a rare total lunar eclipse will accompany the full moon, turning it into a striking ‘Blood Moon’, this phenomenon sadly won’t be visible from the UK. According to NASA, totality will be visible from eastern Asia, Australia, and the Pacific region.
- The Worm Moon gets its name from March signalling spring’s arrival, when earthworms emerge and animals awaken from hibernation. According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, the name comes from March “signalling the beginning of spring, when earthworms start to appear in the soil”.
- The moon reaches peak fullness at 11:37am on Tuesday, March 3, but will appear spectacular both Monday and Tuesday evenings. Moonrise occurs between 5:40pm and 5:50pm across the UK.
- Met Office maps show clouds over Wales and northern England tonight, but Tuesday promises clearer skies for optimal viewing. Sky watchers should look towards the eastern horizon in early evening for the best views.
- While UK residents will miss this lunar eclipse, the next Blood Moon visible from Britain occurs on August 28, 2026
READ THE FULL STORY: Exact time to see the 2026 ‘Worm Moon’ as March full Moon rises tonight
