Avid admirers of the sky and the stars, you’re in for a treat. The final full moon of the month is set to light up the sky tonight, February 12. Known as the ‘Snow Moon,’ clouds permitting – it is meant to be visible over London this evening.
In an additional treat, NASA reported that Wednesday evening will also offer a chance to catch a rare glimpse of a ‘parade’ of four planets.
What is the ‘Snow Moon’?
The February full moon has been coined the ‘Snow Moon’ for decades – it was named after the heavy snowfall typically seen during this time of year Never London though, but Europe adopted the same name.
Throughout history, many cultures have marked the changing seasons by observing the lunar cycle, naming each full moon after key seasonal events or activities like harvesting and hunting.
When will you be able to see the Snow Moon?
If you’re keen to catch a glimpse of the celestial site, it will rise at 17:03 GMT in London. Clouds permitting, it should be visible until 07:53 GMT on 13 February. The timings vary slightly depending on where you are in the UK.
The moon will reach its peak illumination at 13:53 GMT in the UK, though it will be below the horizon at that time. However, it will still appear “full” when it rises later in the evening and remain so for the next few days.
Wednesday looks to be a dry and cloudy day for most – so not ideal conditions for viewing the Snow Moon but one can hope this clears up just in time.
What is a ‘planetary parade’?
The middle of February offers a chance to witness a rare alignment of four planets – Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. According to NASA, it will be possible to visit with a naked eye before fading away.
NASA additionally stated that Uranus and Neptune will also be about but they won’t appear as brightly and will require a telescope to see them.