The phenomenon of a full moon occurs when our planet, Earth, is exactly between the Sun and the Moon. This alignment ensures that the entire side of the Moon that faces us shines in sunlight. Due to the Moon’s orbit around the Earth, the angle at which sunlight hits the Moon’s surface and is reflected back to our planet changes. This creates different lunar phases.
The next full moon will be the Worm Moon, occurring on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at 6:38 a.m. EST. It will also bring a total lunar eclipse.
We’ll update this article several times each week with the latest moonrise, moonset, full moon events and what you can see in the sky each week.
Here’s the full list of full moons this year and their traditional names.
2026 full moon schedule and name of each
(All times Eastern; *denotes a supermoon.)
- Saturday, January 3 – 5:03 am – Wolf Moon*
- Sunday, February 1 – 5:09 pm – Snow Moon
- Tuesday, March 3 – 6:38am – Worm Moon | total lunar eclipse
- Wednesday, April 1 – 10:12 pm – Pink Moon
- Friday, May 1 – 1:23 PM – Flower Moon
- Sunday, May 31 – 4:45 am – Blue Moon
- Monday, June 29 – 7:57 PM – Strawberry Moon
- Wednesday, July 29 – 10:36am – Buck Moon
- Friday, August 28 – 12:19am – Sturgeon Moon | partial lunar eclipse
- Saturday, September 26 – 12:49 pm – Corn Moon
- Monday, October 26 – 12:12 am – Hunter Moon
- Tuesday, November 24 – 9:54 am – Beaver Moon*
- Wednesday, December 23 – 8:28 PM – Cold Moon*
Phases of the Moon in March 2026
The images below show the day-by-day phases of the Moon in March. This month the full moon will be on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
Moonrise and moonset schedule this week
Below are the times of sunrise, sunset, moonrise and moonset as per local time from 40° North to 90° West. The moonlight is illuminated from the same location at 10 pm local time. Unless otherwise specified, all other times are Eastern. For more information on upcoming celestial events, check out our full sky column this week.
Sunday, March 1
Sunrise: 6:33 am
sunset: 5:52 pm
Moonrise: 4:06 pm
Moonset: 5:42 am
Moon phase: Waxing Gibbous (98%)
Monday, March 2
The nearly full Moon passes just 0.4° north of Regulus at 8 a.m. EST; You can see the pair together in the pre-sunrise sky by standing about 20° to the west, two hours before sunrise. The moon is located just below Regulus to the right, the base of Leo’s famous sickle asterism, which looks to many people like a backwards question mark.
Although not visible across much of the US, some parts of the world (including Hawaii, Japan and Russia) will see the Moon pass in front of Regulus today. Visibility and timing of the event is largely dependent on location – you can find more information on In-The-Sky.org’s page for the event here.
Sunrise: 6:31 am
sunset: 5:53 pm
Moonrise: 5:17 pm
Moonset: 6:09 am
Moon phase: full
Tuesday, March 3
A total lunar eclipse, sometimes called a blood moon, will occur this morning across much of the world, including the US.
A total lunar eclipse can occur only during a full moon. The full moon officially occurs this morning at 6:38 a.m. EST. March full moon is also called worm moon. A lunar eclipse is sometimes called a blood moon, because the Moon changes color as it passes through Earth’s shadow – often to deep orange or deep red.
The eclipse officially begins at 3:43 a.m. EST today as the Moon, currently in Leo, first enters the outer regions of Earth’s shadow, called the penumbra. Over the next hour or so, our satellite will slowly begin to go dark. It will be subtle at first, so give it time if you don’t notice any changes right away. At 4:49 a.m. EST, the Moon reaches our planet’s deep inner shadow, called the penumbra. During this time Luna will become darker, now quite noticeable, until totality begins at 6:03 a.m. EST.
Totality is when the Moon literally turns blood, turning orange or red as a small amount of sunlight is refracted onto the lunar surface by our atmosphere. The exact color of each eclipse is unique. At this point, many nearby stars – previously obscured by the bright light of the full moon – should become visible again in the sky around our satellite.
Totality lasts about an hour, ending at 6:02 a.m. CST — note the time change, as it occurs after sunrise (and moonset) for the East Coast and the moon is low on the western horizon in the Midwest. Then, the eclipse moves in the opposite direction, becoming visible primarily in the western part of the US as the Moon gradually becomes lighter. It moves out of the penumbra at 6:17 a.m. MST, then out of the penumbra at 6:23 a.m. PST, ending the eclipse.
Sunrise: 6:30 am
sunset: 5:54 pm
Moonrise: 6:24 pm
Moonset: 6:33 am
Moon phase: Waning Gibbs (99%)
Wednesday, March 4
Sunrise: 6:28 am
sunset: 5:55 pm
Moonrise: 7:31 pm
Moonset: 6:55 am
Moon phase: Waning Gibbs (97%)
Thursday, March 5
Sunrise: 6:27 am
sunset: 5:56 pm
Moonrise: 8:35 pm
Moonset: 7:16 am
Moon phase: Waning Gibbs (92%)
Friday, March 6
Sunrise: 6:25 am
sunset: 5:58 pm
Moonrise: 9:39 pm
Moonset: 7:39 am
Moon phase: Waning Gibbous (86%)
moon phases
The phases of the Moon are: new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter and waning crescent. The cycle starting from one full moon to its next counterpart, called a synodic month or lunar month, lasts about 29.5 days.
Although a full moon occurs only the moment the Earth, Moon, and Sun form a perfect alignment, to our eyes, the Moon appears full for about three days.
Connected: 20 things to see on the moon
Different names of different types of full moon
A variety of specific names are used to identify specific types or times of full moon. These names primarily trace a mix of cultural, agricultural, and natural observations about the Moon, intended to allow humans to not only predict seasonal changes, but also keep track of the passage of time.
For example, almost every month’s full moon has a name taken from Native American, Colonial American, or other North American traditions, whose titles reflect seasonal changes and phenomena of nature.
Wolf Moon (January): Inspired by the howl of hungry wolves.
Snow Moon (February): Indication of heavy snowfall occurring frequently in the month.
Worm Moon (March): It is named after earthworms which indicate the thawing of the ground.
Pink Moon (April): In honor of the pink wild flowers in bloom.
Flower Moon (May): Celebrating the blooming of flowers.
Strawberry Moon (June): Marks the major strawberry harvest season.
Buck Moon (July): Identifying new antlers on a deer.
Sturgeon Moon (August): Named after the sturgeon fish found in abundance.
Corn Moon (September): Refers to the maize harvesting period.
Hunter’s Moon (October): To commemorate the hunting season before winter.
Beaver Moon (November): Refers to the time when otters are busy building their winter dams.
Cold Moon (December): Symbolic of the coldness of winter.
Additionally, there are some additional names for Full Moons that commonly make their way into public conversation and news.
super moon: This term is reserved for a full Moon that aligns with lunar perigee, which is the Moon’s closest point to Earth in its orbit. This proximity makes the full moon unusually large and bright. For a full moon to earn the supermoon tag, it must be within about 90 percent of its closest distance to Earth.
blue moon: A Blue Moon is the second full moon in a month that experiences two full moons. This phenomenon graces our skies approximately every 2.7 years. Although the term suggests a color, a blue moon is not actually blue. Sometimes, atmospheric conditions such as a recent volcanic eruption can give the Moon a slightly blue tint, but this color is not associated with this term.
black moon: Black Moon is a recent, informal term that can describe one of two situations. Either the third of four new moons in the same astronomical season or the second of two new moons in a month is a dark moon. As its name suggests, the Black Moon is completely dark, as it is a new moon that occurs when the Moon is between the Sun and the Earth. Amavasya cannot be seen except during a total solar eclipse.
Sharadchandra: Closest to the autumnal equinox, usually in September, the Harvest Moon is often famous for the distinctive orange hue it can display. This full moon rises near sunset and sets near sunrise, providing long periods of bright moonlight. Historically, it was invaluable for farmers to gather their produce.
FAQ about full moon
What is the difference between full moon and new moon? The full moon is seen when the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, causing the entire face of the Moon to be visible. In contrast, during the new moon, the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun, leaving its Earth-facing side covered in darkness.
How does the full moon affect tides? Due to the gravitational pull of the Moon, the Earth’s water rises up, causing tides. During both the full moon and new moon, the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned, producing a “spring tide.” These tides can swing exceptionally high or low due to the combined gravitational influence of the Sun and Moon.
Here are the dates of all the moon phases in 2026:
| New | first quarter | full | last quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 january | 10 January | ||
| 18 January | 25 January | february 1 | february 9 |
| February 17 | February 24 | March 3 | 11 March |
| 18 March | March 25th | 1 April | 10th April |
| 17th April | 23 April | 1 may | 9th May |
| 16th May | 23 may | 31 may | June 8th |
| 14 June | 21 June | 29 June | 7th July |
| 14th July | 21st July | 29th July | 5th August |
| 12 August | August 19 | 28 August | 4 september |
| September 10 | 18 september | September 26 | 3 October |
| 10 October | 18 October | 26 October | 1 November |
| 9 November | 17 November | 24 November | 1 december |
| December 8th | 17th December | 23 December | 30th December |
