Why Is Tonight’s Full Moon Called The Worm Moon?

Another month(ish), another full moon: and this one is very special. As the moon, sun and planet Earth align in space, a reddish hue will be refracted onto the full moon’s surface. Here’s what you need to know about 2025’s Worm Moon.

Why Is The Full Moon Called The Worm Moon?

Every full moon has a nickname in line with Native American tradition. January is the Wolf Moon, February is the Snow Moon and March is the Worm Moon. Much less poetic…

Why worms? Simply because, as spring warms the long-cold ground, March is when Native American tribes would start to notice the pink wriggly insects burrowing through the soil once more. It’s a less-pretty harbinger of spring compared to daffodils and bouncing bunnies, but a sign of ensuing warmth nonetheless.

What Is A Blood Moon?

March’s full moon isn’t just the Worm Moon: it’s also a Blood Moon. It sounds ominous, but the ‘blood’ thankfully refers to the reddish hue the moon takes on rather than anything supernatural on the ground.

Why is the moon red? Because planet Earth is casting a shadow over our natural satellite, standing directly in between the sun and the moon. ‘Blood Moon’ is a nickname for a total lunar eclipse – which is much more frequent than a total solar eclipse, but an intriguing sight nonetheless.

When Can I See The Blood Moon?

While the full moon will rise in the sky at 6.30pm this evening (13 March), just after sunset (6.04pm), the lunar eclipse won’t happen until the following morning. If you’d like to see the Blood Moon, the best time is 6.20am on Friday 14 March.

Unlike meteor showers and planet spottings, you don’t need to escape light pollution to see the Blood Moon. As the moon begins to set, however, you might need to access high ground to catch a glimpse.

Lunar Eclipse Vs. Solar Eclipse

An eclipse happens when the sun, Earth and moon are in alignment. A lunar eclipse is when Earth sits between the sun and the moon, while a solar eclipse is when the moon sits between the sun and Earth.

Total solar eclipses are very rare: they happen every 18 months or so, but can only be seen from very specific vantage points on the planet. One specific place will see a total solar eclipse every 400 years. If we take London as an example, the next total solar eclipse will happen in September 2090 – that’s quite the wait.

March 2025’s Partial Solar Eclipse

Not one but two eclipses will happen this month: the total lunar eclipse in the early hours of Friday 14 March, followed by a partial solar eclipse on 29 March 2025. The partial solar eclipse will begin at 10.07am in London, with maximum coverage (around 30 to 40 percent) occurring at 11.03am when the moon passes in front of the sun. The eclipse will end at around midday.

To see it, simply head outside – but be conscious of staring at the sun too directly. For the safest view, tune into Greenwich Observatory’s live stream at rmg.co.uk or on YouTube.