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LIFT YOUR EYES | This Friday and Saturday will be the best times to see the February “Snow Moon” rise, although choosing the best time will depend on where you are.
Here is everything you need to know to see the “Snow Moon”, and why and it is very special in Asia, where it will give rise to the “Lantern Festival”.
When does the full “Snow Moon” occur?
The full “Snow Moon” occurs at 8:17 am Universal Time (you can convert here according to your time zone). At this precise moment, the face of the Moon visible on Earth will take on the full radiance of the Sun while it is in front of the constellation Leo. However, now is not the time to go observe the moon.
Why will North America be “divided” by the “Snow Moon”?
At the time of a full moon only, moonrise occurs near sunset. However, while the closest encounter between the two occurs at dusk on February 27 on the east coast of North America, it occurs at dusk on February 26 on the west coast:
- New York: Sunset is at 5:44 p.m. EST and moonrise at 6:17 p.m. EST on Saturday, February 27, 2021.
- Los Angeles: moonrise at 5:21 p.m. PST and sunset at 5:46 p.m. PST on Friday, February 26, 2021.
What is the “Lantern Festival”?
The Lunar New Year celebrations in Asia – which began on the New Moon on Friday February 12, 2021 to mark the start of the “Year of the Ox” – end with the rising of the “Snow Moon” on Saturday February 27 2021. Thus, the Chinese New Year of 2021 began on February 12, and the celebrations – called “Lantern Festival” and “Yuanxiao” – end on February 26.
“Yuanxiao” is the 15thth Lunar New Year’s Day.
Why is it called the full “Snow Moon”?
The names commonly used for full moons refer mainly to those used – or allegedly used (there is no written record) – by Native American tribes. Hence the name “Snow Moon” in February, although there were many Native American tribes. According to Moongiant, although “Snow Moon” was a popular name for the February Full Moon in North America, the Cherokee Tribe called it “Bone Moon” and the Kalapuya Tribe called it “Out of Food Moon”. food ”), because winter reserves were dwindling.
However, for the Hopi tribe, it was the “Moon of Purification and Renewal,” as it was the first full moon of the lunar calendar year.
In Europe, the full moon in February is known as the “Storm Moon” and the Celts called it “Ice Moon”.
Article translated from Forbes US – Author: Jamie Carter
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