The full moon in February 2017, known as the snow moon, will start out a bit dimmer than an ordinary full moon because a penumbral eclipse occurs on the same night, Friday, Feb. 10. This will be the second full moon on the 2017 lunar calendar, coming one month after the January wolf moon.
Below are some facts about the snow moon 2017, how it got its name and when to see the snow moon.
What is a snow moon? And what is the snow moon meaning?
The snow moon is an old nickname for the February full moon, from the the days when native American tribes gave nicknames to each month’s full moon to help keep track of the years and the seasons. February was usually the snowiest time of the year, and still is in many parts of the United States, so that’s why the name snow moon was picked.
Are there other nicknames for the February full moon?
Yes. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, some native American tribes called the full moon of February the “hunger moon” because heavy snow made it difficult to hunt for food. Other nicknames that have been used over the years include the “storm moon” and the “little famine moon.”
What’s the best time to see the snow moon?
On Friday, Feb. 10, the snow moon will begin to rise in the eastern sky at 5:18 p.m. in the New York metro region. It will set at 5:13 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11, in the western sky. Full moons usually look best when they first start rising and in the hours before sunrise.
When does the snow moon reach its crest?
The snow moon will reach its crest — when it is officially at its full phase — at 7:32 p.m. Friday in the New York metro region.
What is a penumbral eclipse?
A penumbral eclipse occurs when the moon moves through the outer section of the earth’s shadow, says earthsky.org. This type of eclipse occurs a few times per year, but most people don’t even notice it when they’re looking at the moon, because it’s not as dramatic as a full eclipse or a partial eclipse.
“There is never a dark bite taken out of the moon, as in a partial eclipse. The eclipse never progresses to reach the dramatic minutes of totality,” says earthsky.org astronomy writer Deborah Byrd. “At best, at mid-eclipse, very observant people will notice a dark shading on the moon’s face. Others will look and notice nothing at all.”
Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality or like him on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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