Astronomy, The Sky and Outer Space

Hello, Looking out of my lounge window, just rising is a big moon, that during the night becomes a full moon. Then at dawn, just prior to it setting in the west, it becomes a red moon, through a period of eclipse. As I'm looking now, cloud is hiding it.

And typical, overcast, after a brilliantly clear full moon in the very early hours this morning. BTW, the full moon in March is known as the Worm Moon, if it occurrs on or after 21st March. If before the 21st, one of the many other names it's known by is the Crow Moon. See the list below for other some of the other names. •  Paschal Moon •  Lenten Moon •  Crust Moon •  Chaste Moon •  Sugar Moon •  Sap Moon

So what is the origin of those terms? The moon must have played such a part of peoples lives at some point, today its just a shiny rock in the night and sometimes day sky. The tides yes are influenced and predicted by the moon phases, do those names have any relevance to this phenomenon?

Gumnut, the short answer is yes, a very important part. Depending on the country of origin, these names evolved around pagan and prehistoric understandings. You'll note for the Worm Moon name, the decisive date also marks the Spring Equinox. If you have a look at one of many websites I use, Time & Date, they have a page HERE dedicated to the various names attributed to the full moon, and the basics behind the origins. The sun, moon, stars and many planetary aspects played a very large part in prehistoric humans, not just here, but around the world. There is a book published annually, called Gardening and planting By The Moon, avaialble from most good book sellers, online or over the counter and well worth a nosy. With today's science, some crops are grown under artificial conditions, using controlled irrigation and artificial light. Subterranean Horticulture, or as it seems to be called these days, Vertical Horticulture. Once Sci-Fi stuff and 21st Century, today, almost a daily reality.