Tuesday, March 7, 2023
On the beach between BW 1 and 2
Sunset – 6:21 pm
Moonrise – 6:39 pm
High Tide – 8:24 pm
Full Worm Moon
The last full moon before the time change is Tuesday, March 7. The forecast is for a clear night and still cool enough to enjoy the fire, perfect for a great time on the beach with family and friends.
To keep things simple, each person brings what you want: food, drinks, chairs and a stick of firewood for a big bonfire. Nothing will be provided but a beautiful beach, a bonfire and, hopefully, a full moon.
People ask if the bonfire will be held if it’s rainy…. the bonfire will be cancelled if it is raining or rain is threatening as few would be comfortable attending. The bonfire will also be canceled if the temperature is forecast to be below 40 degrees.
By terms of the permit, the fire needs to be out no later than 10 pm. The sunset and moonrise times still pose a challenge for scheduling dinner but do give us plenty of time to enjoy the evening.
Other night sky observation opportunities:
-The International Space Station Flyover is 6:01 am so we can’t watch it during our bonfire.
-The next meteor showers aren’t until mid-April.
-The next SpaceX evening launch is March 11 at 8:36 pm.
-No special planet viewing could be found.
Put these dates for the Full Moon Bonfires on your calendar:
Thursday, April 6
Friday, May 5 (yes, Cinco de Mayo)
Saturday, June 3
There’s always plenty of room on the beach for everyone, so invite a friend or your house guests.
How the Full Moon Got Its Name
Per The Old Farmers Almanac:
March: Full Worm Moon – Traditionally thought to be named after the earthworms of warming spring soil. Alternatively, in the late 1700s, Jonathan Carver wrote that this Moon actually refers to a different sort of “worm”—larvae—which emerge from the bark of trees and other winter hideouts around this time. Other names:
• Crow Comes Back Moon (Northern Ojibwe)
• Eagle Moon (Cree)
• Goose Moon (Algonquin, Cree)
• Snow Crust Moon (Anishinaabe)
•Sore Eyes Moon (Dakota, Lakota, Assiniboine)
• Sugar Moon (Ojibwe)
• Wind Strong Moon (Pueblo)
I found another website that also says the Cherokee Indians called it the Windy Moon and the English Medieval name was the Chaste Moon.
Another website says the Chinese call it Sleepy Moon.
Almanac.com also provided these fun facts:
“March” is named for the Roman god of war, Mars. This was the time of year to resume military campaigns that had been interrupted by winter.
In the early Roman calendar, March (or Martius) was the first month of the calendar year. As March brought the first day of spring with the vernal equinox, it was the start of new beginnings.
March became the third month when January and February, which were added to the end of the Roman calendar around 700 BCE, instead became the first and second months around 450 BCE.
-Submitted by Judy Morr