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When and where to see February’s micromoon, known as the Snow Moon
Look up, astronomy fans: February’s full moon, a micromoon, will be visible from Thursday evening through Sunday morning, according to NASA.
February’s full moon, known as the Snow Moon, will reach peak illumination at 7:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, according to NASA. The Old Farmer’s Almanac details specific moonrise times for different ZIP codes across the United States.
Though a telescope or binoculars will magnify the moon and clarify details on its surface, no special tools are needed to see the full moon. NASA advises people just go outside and look up at the sky. Check local forecasts for detailed information on how clear the night sky will be.
What makes February’s full moon a micromoon
Last year saw several supermoons —a phenomenon that occurs when the moon’s orbit is closest to Earth at the same time as the moon is full, according to NASA. A micromoon is the opposite of a supermoon, occurring when the moon is at its farthest point from Earth when the moon is full. The moon’s distance from Earth varies between about 221,457 miles, and 252,712 miles.
The moon will be at apogee —when it’ll be farthest from the Earth in orbit— on Sunday morning, just a day after the full moon peaks, according to NASA. Because it will be so far away, February’s full moon will appear as the smallest of the year, according to astronomy website EarthSky. February’s full moon will be the only micromoon this year.
Why is February’s full moon known as a Snow Moon
Full moon names often come from seasons, historical crops and the behavior of certain animals. It’s believed that the Snow Moon moniker for this month’s full moon comes from the typically heavy snowfall that occurs in February, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
February’s full moon also has other names connected to animals, including Bald Eagle Moon, Ojibwe Bear Moon, Raccoon Moon, Groundhog Moon and Goose Moon. It’s also known as the Month of the Bony Moon and Hungry Moon because, historically, food was hard to come by at this time of year.
Get ready for spring’s first full moon
The Snow Moon is the last full moon of winter.
Spring starts on March 19, several days before the Worm Moon, which reaches peak illumination on March 25. March’s full moon is also known as the Paschal Full Moon this year because it will be the first full moon of spring.
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A person in Louisiana has the first severe illness caused by bird flu in the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Wednesday.
Officials determined the patient had exposure to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks, though an investigation into the source of the infection in the state is ongoing. This is also the first case of H5N1 bird flu in the U.S. that has been linked to exposure to a backyard flock, a news release noted. Officials have not shared details on the patient’s symptoms.
The case was first confirmed by health officials Friday, adding to the total of 61 reported human cases of H5 bird flu reported in the United States. Another severe case of H5N1 has been reported in a teen in British Columbia.
A release from the Louisiana Department of Health Wednesday added the patient, a resident of southwestern Louisiana, is currently hospitalized. Until now, the H5N1 cases in the U.S. have been mild, including conjunctivitis and upper respiratory symptoms.
“While the current public health risk for the general public is low, people who work with birds, poultry or cows, or have recreational exposure to them, are at higher risk,” the state’s health department added.
Mild illnesses have been seen in dairy and poultry workers who had close contact with infected animals. In two cases, no known source of the illnesses have been identified, which has worried infectious disease experts about the possibility of human-to-human transmission, which could trigger a pandemic.
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Houston father desperate for help after wife recovering from C-section, kids deported to Mexico
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