The Full Worm Moon Will Appear Bigger and Brighter in the Sky This March—a Sign That Spring Is Almost Here

There are some celestial sights so breathtaking, you'll want to mark your calendar to make sure you catch them in real time. Case in point? The full worm moon, which will light up the sky on March 7 this year, Mental Floss reports. While the worm moon will begin to rise at night on Monday, March 6, the best time to see it will actually be the next morning at 7:42 a.m. ET (that's when it will be at its peak!).

The worm moon will appear bigger and brighter this year thanks to a "moon illusion," Almanac reports. When the moon begins to rise right above the horizon, it will look like it's touching other tall objects, like high-rise buildings. But this truly is just an illusion: As the moon continues to rise and reach its peak, it will appear much smaller.

This moon's name has many historical origins, but one of the main theories involves its ties to spring. The "worm moon" moniker might be related to the earthworms that move through the ground as the weather gets warmer and their droppings fertilize the soil. In turn, birds come out and feed on the worms (the circle of life!). These are all clear signs that spring is on the horizon—and that the ground will soon be fertile enough for plants and flowers.

Other research connects the worm moon to the beetle larvae that emerge from tree bark in early March. Not all of the celestial event's names are linked to creepy crawlers, though: It's also referred to as the "full sap moon," since sugar maple trees begin leaking sap in March.