February’s “Snow Moon” Can be Seen in Rockford on Friday

One of my favorite things in life is looking up to the sky and seeing a giant full moon.

Did you know full moon's have names? And each full moon correlates to different times of the year. January's full moon is known as the "Wolf Moon" and we saw that on January 28. Almost a month later another full moon is on the horizon. February's full moon is known as the "Snow Moon".

February’s full Snow Moon reaches peak illumination at 3:19 A.M. EST on Saturday, February 27. But according to the Almanac, if you want the best view of the Snow Moon, look for it on the night of Friday, February 26.

So why is it called the "Snow Moon"? Well, according to the Almanac -

The explanation behind February’s full Moon name is a fairly straightforward one: it’s known as the Snow Moon due to the typically heavy snowfall that occurs in February. On average, February is the United States’ snowiest month, according to data from the National Weather Service. In the 1760s, Captain Jonathan Carver, who had visited with the Naudowessie (Dakota), wrote that the name used for this period was the Snow Moon, “because more snow commonly falls during this month than any other in the winter.”

The more you know!

You can also use this information for a fun homeschool lesson! Tell the kids you're staying up late or waking up early to check out the Snow Moon.

H/T WTVO