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#1 2026-03-01 13:31:17
- SpaceNut
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2026 Full Moon calendar: When to see the Full Moon and phases
2026 Full Moon calendar: When to see the Full Moon and phases by Jake Parks
The phenomenon of a Full Moon arises when our planet, Earth, is precisely sandwiched between the Sun and the Moon. This alignment ensures the entire side of the Moon that faces us gleams under sunlight. Thanks to the Moon’s orbit around Earth, the angle of sunlight hitting the lunar surface and being reflected back to our planet changes. That creates different lunar phases.
The next Full Moon will be the Worm Moon, which occurs at 6:38 a.m. EST on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. It will also bring a total lunar eclipse.
We’ll update this article multiple times each week with the latest moonrise, moonset, Full Moon schedule, and some of what you can see in the sky each week.
Here’s the complete list of Full Moons this year and their traditional names.
2026 Full Moon schedule and names of each
(All times Eastern; * denotes a Super Moon.)Saturday, Jan. 3 - 5:03 a.m. - Wolf Moon*
Sunday, Feb. 1 - 5:09 p.m. - Snow Moon
Tuesday, March 3 - 6:38 a.m. - Worm Moon | Total lunar eclipse
Wednesday, April 1 - 10:12 p.m. - Pink Moon
Friday, May 1 - 1:23 p.m. - Flower Moon
Sunday, May 31 - 4:45 a.m. - Blue Moon
Monday, June 29 - 7:57 p.m. - Strawberry Moon
Wednesday, July 29 - 10:36 a.m. - Buck Moon
Friday, Aug. 28 - 12:19 a.m. - Sturgeon Moon | Partial lunar eclipse
Saturday, Sept. 26 - 12:49 p.m. - Corn Moon
Monday, Oct. 26 - 12:12 a.m. - Hunter’s Moon
Tuesday, Nov. 24- 9:54 a.m. - Beaver Moon*
Wednesday , Dec. 23 - 8:28 p.m. - Cold Moon*
The phases of the Moon in March 2026
The images below show the day-by-day phases of the Moon in March. The Full Moon this month will be on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
Note: Moon phases in the calendar vary in size due to the distance from Earth and are shown at 0h Universal Time. Credit: Astronomy: Roen Kelly
The moonrise and moonset schedule this week
The times below for sunrise, sunset, moonrise, and moonset are given in local time from 40° N 90° W. The Moon's illumination is given at 10 P.M. local time from the same location. All other times are Eastern unless otherwise specified. For more details on upcoming sky events, check out our full Sky This Week column.Sunday, March 1
Sunrise: 6:33 A.M.
Sunset: 5:52 P.M.
Moonrise: 4:06 P.M.
Moonset: 5:42 A.M.
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 catch the pair close together in the predawn sky, standing roughly 20° high in the west two hours before sunrise. The Moon is located just to the lower right of Regulus, which anchors the famous Sickle asterism of Leo, which to many looks like a backwards question mark.Although not visible in the majority of the U.S., some parts of the world (including Hawaii, Japan, and Russia) will see the Moon pass in front of Regulus today. The visibility and timing of the event are heavily location dependent - you can find more information on the In-The-Sky.org‘s page for the event here.
Sunrise: 6:31 A.M.
Sunset: 5:53 P.M.
Moonrise: 5:17 P.M.
Moonset: 6:09 A.M.
Moon Phase: FullTuesday, March 3
A total lunar eclipse, sometimes called a Blood Moon, occurs over much of the world, including the U.S., early this morning.Total lunar eclipses can only take place during the Full Moon. Full Moon officially occurs this morning at 6:38 A.M. EST. The March Full Moon is also called the Worm Moon. Lunar eclipses are sometimes referred to as Blood Moons as well, because the Moon changes color - often to a dark orange or deep red - as it travels through Earth's shadow.
The eclipse officially starts this morning at 3:43 A.M. EST as the Moon, currently in Leo, first moves into the outer regions of Earth's shadow, called the penumbra. Over the next hour or so, our satellite will slowly begin to darken. It will be subtle at first, so give it time if you don't notice a change immediately. At 4:49 A.M. EST, the Moon reaches the darker inner shadow of our planet, called the umbra. Luna will continue to grow even darker during this time, now quite noticeably, until the start of totality at 6:03 A.M. EST.
Totality is when the Moon truly turns to blood, taking on an orangey or reddish hue as a small amount of sunlight is refracted by our atmosphere onto the lunar surface. The exact color of each eclipse is unique. At this point, many of the nearby stars - previously blotted out by the bright light of the Full Moon - should reappear in the sky around our satellite.
Totality lasts roughly an hour, ending at 6:02 A.M. CST - note the time change, as this is after sunrise (and moonset) for the East Coast and with the Moon low on the western horizon in the Midwest. Then, the eclipse proceeds in reverse, visible largely from the western half of the U.S. as the Moon slowly lightens. It passes out of the umbra at 6:17 A.M. MST, then out of the penumbra at 6:23 A.M. PST, ending the eclipse.
Sunrise: 6:30 A.M.
Sunset: 5:54 P.M.
Moonrise: 6:24 P.M.
Moonset: 6:33 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (99%)Wednesday, March 4
Sunrise: 6:28 A.M.
Sunset: 5:55 P.M.
Moonrise: 7:31 P.M.
Moonset: 6:55 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (97%)Thursday, March 5
Sunrise: 6:27 A.M.
Sunset: 5:56 P.M.
Moonrise: 8:35 P.M.
Moonset: 7:16 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (92%)Friday, March 6
Sunrise: 6:25 A.M.
Sunset: 5:58 P.M.
Moonrise: 9:39 P.M.
Moonset: 7:39 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (86%)The phases of the Moon
The phases of the Moon are: New Moon, waxing crescent, First Quarter, waxing gibbous, Full Moon, waning gibbous, Last Quarter, and waning crescent. A cycle starting from one Full Moon to its next counterpart, termed the synodic month or lunar month, lasts about 29.5 days.Though a Full Moon only occurs during the exact moment when Earth, Moon, and Sun form a perfect alignment, to our eyes, the Moon seems Full for around three days.
Different names for different types of Full Moon
There are a wide variety of specialized names used to identify distinct types or timings of Full Moons. These names primarily trace back to a blend of cultural, agricultural, and natural observations about the Moon, aimed at allowing humans to not only predict seasonal changes, but also track the passage of time.For instance, almost every month's Full Moon boasts a name sourced from Native American, Colonial American, or other North American traditions, with their titles mirroring seasonal shifts and nature’s events.
A composite of each month’s Full Moon in 2020 and 2021. Credit: Soumyadeep Mukherjee
Wolf Moon (January): Inspired by the cries of hungry wolves.Snow Moon (February): A nod to the month’s often heavy snowfall.
Worm Moon (March): Named after the earthworms that signal thawing grounds.
Pink Moon (April): In honor of the blossoming pink wildflowers.
Flower Moon (May): Celebrating the bloom of flowers.
Strawberry Moon (June): Marks the prime strawberry harvest season.
Buck Moon (July): Recognizing the new antlers on bucks.
Sturgeon Moon (August): Named after the abundant sturgeon fish.
Corn Moon (September): Signifying the corn harvesting period.
Hunter’s Moon (October): Commemorating the hunting season preceding winter.
Beaver Moon (November): Reflects the time when beavers are busy building their winter dams.
Cold Moon (December): Evocative of winter’s chill.
In addition, there are a few additional names for Full Moons that commonly make their way into public conversations and news.
Super Moon: This term is reserved for a Full Moon that aligns with the lunar perigee, which is the Moon’s nearest point to Earth in its orbit. This proximity renders the Full Moon unusually large and luminous. For a Full Moon to earn the Super Moon tag, it should be within approximately 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 roughly every 2.7 years. Though the term suggests a color, Blue Moons aren't truly blue. Very occasionally, atmospheric conditions such as recent volcanic eruptions might lend the Moon a slightly blueish tint, but this hue isn’t tied to the term.
Black Moon: A Black Moon is a recent, unofficial term that can describe one of two situations. Either the third of four New Moons in a single astronomical season or the second of two New Moons in a month is a Black 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 Earth. The New Moon cannot be observed except during a total solar eclipse.
Harvest Moon: Occurring closest to the autumnal equinox, typically in September, the Harvest Moon is often renowned for a distinct orange tint it might display. This Full Moon rises close to sunset and sets near sunrise, providing extended hours of bright moonlight. Historically, this was invaluable to farmers gathering their produce.
Common questions about Full Moons
What is the difference between a Full Moon and a New Moon? A Full Moon is witnessed when Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, making the entire Moon’s face visible. Conversely, during a New Moon, the Moon lies between Earth and the Sun, shrouding its Earth-facing side in darkness.How does the Full Moon influence tides? The Moon's gravitational tug causes Earth’s waters to bulge, birthing tides. During both Full and New Moons, the Sun, Earth, and Moon are in alignment, generating "spring tides." These tides can swing exceptionally high or low due to the combined gravitational influences of the Sun and Moon.
Here are the dates for all the lunar phases in 2026:
Here are the dates for all the lunar phases in 2026:
Full Moon
Jan. 3
Feb. 1
March 3
April 1
May 1
May 31
June 29
July 29
Aug. 28
Sept. 26
Oct. 26
Nov. 24
Dec. 23
Last Quarter
Jan. 10
Feb. 9
March 11
April 10
May 9
June 8
July 7
Aug. 5
Sept. 4
Oct. 3
Nov. 1
Dec. 1
New Moon
Jan. 18
Feb. 17
March 18
April 17
May 16
June 14
July 14
Aug. 12
Sept. 10
Oct. 10
Nov. 17
Dec. 17
First Quarter
Jan. 25
Feb. 24
March 25
April 23
May 23
June 21
July 21
Aug. 19
Sept. 18
Oct. 18
Nov. 9
Dec. 8
Dec. 30
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