First full Moon of spring set to rise in UK skies this week

The first full moon of meteorological spring, also known as the Worm Moon, is set to rise in UK skies on 3 March.

Marking the third full Moon of 2026, this display will be a double spectacle for lucky sky watchers in parts of the Americas, Asia, and Australia as it coincides with a rare total lunar eclipse.

Across the UK, the Worm Moon is at its fullest on Tuesday 3 March at 11:38 GMT during the day.

However it will appear full overnight on both Monday and Tuesday.

It tends to look its most impressive when closest to the horizon at moonrise which occurs at different times across the UK, including:

17:42 in London

17:44 in Edinburgh

17:48 in Cardiff

17:50 in Belfast

Look to the east in the early evening sky.

For some parts of the world, the full Moon will be visible as it undergoes a total lunar eclipse, becoming what is known as a Blood Moon.

A lunar eclipse occurs when Earth moves directly between the Sun and Moon, casting a shadow onto the Moon’s surface. During this, the Moon can turn a rusty red colour, which is where it gets it nickname, the Blood Moon.

Those most likely to see the phenomenon include observers in parts of North America, South America, East Asia, and Australia.

The UK, however, will sadly miss out as the Moon will be below the horizon whilst the shadow is being cast.

Full Moons have names that date back to ancient traditions before modern calendars were used.

They were helpful ways to mark the changing seasons and the names tended to relate to significant timely events.

The March full Moon is known as the Worm Moon as it refers to when earthworms begin to emerge from the soil as the weather warms in springtime.

On Monday night the clearer skies are likely across East Anglia and south-east England ahead of a band of cloud moving in from the west. The cloud in Scotland and Northern Ireland should break later in the night.

A change of fortunes on Tuesday overnight with the cloudier skies over southeastern parts of the UK. Elsewhere skies should be clear.

Don’t forget you can keep up-to-date with the weather forecast where you are at BBC Weather online and on the app.

If the weather is not on your side this time, the next full Moon will rise on 1 April with the Pink Moon, followed by the Flower Moon on 1 May.

May will also feature a second full Moon on May 31, known as a Blue Moon. The Blue Moon is so-called because having two full Moons in a single month only happens once every few years, giving rise to the expression “once in a blue Moon.”