When and the place to look in 2023: Search for the brilliant, spherical full moon ascending within the east shortly after sundown, as twilight darkens on February 5. It glows excessive within the south close to midnight and drops low within the west shortly earlier than dawn on February 6.
Crest of the full moon falls at 18:28 UTC on February 5 (12:28 p.m. CST), which is about 5 hours earlier than moonrise in central North America.
It’s the smallest full moon of 2023 That’s as a result of this full moon is in a far a part of its orbit. A cautious comparability with pictures of different full moons would present that this full moon seems smaller-than-average in our sky. Will it look smaller to you within the sky? Most likely not. However its brightness shall be diminished, in distinction to different full moons.
It’s additionally the Snow Moon: All full moons have popular nicknames. The intense, full moon in February is often known as both the Snow Moon or the Starvation Moon.
February’s full moon is the smallest of 2023
Some moons are supermoons. That’s, they’re each full and in a shut a part of their orbits to Earth.
However the February 2023 full moon is a micromoon. It’s notably removed from Earth. The moon’s farthest level, or apogee, was reached at 9 UTC on February 4.
And the February 2023 micromoon is the second of two micromoons in 2023. The January 2023 full moon was a micromoon, too. However the February full moon is 2023’s farthest – and final – micromoon of this yr. Its distance shall be 252,171 miles (405,830 km). Examine that to the common distance between Earth and the moon, 237,700 miles (382,500 km).
A micromoon can seem as much as 14% smaller than a supermoon, and its smaller measurement may be seen compared pictures … however it’s powerful to see with the attention. Nonetheless, this full moon is much less shiny than a supermoon, or a full moon at a mean distance. However “much less shiny” doesn’t imply dim! This February 2023 full moon will seem to shine brightly, as all full moons do. And it would seem particularly shiny to you for those who dwell in a spot the place it’s winter, the place the leaves are off the deciduous timber now. Does snow cowl the bottom the place you’re? If that’s the case, the moon will look brighter nonetheless.
The composite picture beneath reveals the distinction in measurement between a supermoon and a micromoon.
February full moon in Leo
The February full moon can lie in entrance of considered one of two constellations of the zodiac and one non-zodiac constellation. Most years – as this yr – it falls in Leo the Lion. However it may possibly additionally lie in Cancer the Crab, as it can in 2026. Sometimes, it’s in Sextans the Sextant, an obscure constellation instantly south of Leo.
And much more sometimes, a full moon doesn’t happen in any respect in February. That happened last in 2018. It gained’t occur once more till 2037.
The moon is roundest on the day it reaches the crest of its full phase. However, on the times earlier than and after, it additionally seems practically full.
The star close to this full moon is Regulus
On the night time of February 5, 2023, the moon shines close to the brightest star in Leo. This star is known as Regulus, which suggests little king. Everybody on Earth will see Regulus within the moon’s neighborhood on this night time. To see a exact view out of your location, attempt Stellarium.
Regulus would possibly seem dim within the glare of the brightly lit moon. For a neater view, block the moon along with your hand. Or place your self so {that a} distant panorama object akin to a tree department or a utility pole blocks the moon. Then the star pops into higher view!
February full moon and the August sun
For the reason that full moon is reverse the sun within the sky, the February full moon lies about the place the sun lies six months from now. In actual fact, the blindingly shiny sun strikes instantly beneath Regulus – in an occasion known as a conjunction – within the August 23 daytime sky.
Backside line: The total Snow Moon occurs in a single day on February 5, 2023. It’s the smallest full moon of 2023 and lies close to the brilliant star Regulus in Leo.
