Metro Vancouver skywatchers can bathe in the light of the silvery snow moon in a matter of weeks.
February's full lunar offering is aptly named, coinciding with a month that typically experiences ample snowfall in the Lower Mainland.
The Old Farmer's Almanac says the winter moon gets its name because most of the United States typically experiences the greatest snowfall amounts in February.
Other names for February's full moon include the Bald Eagle Moon or Eagle Moon (Cree), Bear Moon and Tlingit Black Bear Moon (Ojibwe), Raccoon Moon (Dakota), Groundhog Moon (Algonquin), and Goose Moon (Haida). The Cherokee also referred to it as the Bone Moon or Hungry Moon due to the lack of food during the month. Cherokee tribes would commune with their dead ancestors during this time.
The snow moon also coincides with the Lunar New Year in Asia. Cultures celebrating the Lunar New Year associate the full February moon with new beginnings rather than death. Many countries celebrate the occasion with lantern festivals and celebratory foods.
Lunar New Year events coincide with the full moon
Lunar New Year celebrations in Vancouver kicked off early, with festive events starting in January and continuing through February. Locals can even enjoy some of them on the same day as the full moon.
According to timeanddate.com, the moon will be at its fullest in Vancouver on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 5:53 a.m. The moon will also appear nearly full in the nights leading up to and following the main event.
Skywatchers can also check out a rare planetary alignment of Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. These planets are all on the same side of the sun, providing the ideal conditions to view them together in what appears to be a line.
The Metro Vancouver weather forecast includes mostly clear conditions through the end of January to view the "parade of the planets." However, locals should stay tuned for updates around the full moon.
Stay up-to-date with hyperlocal forecasts across 50 neighbourhoods in the Lower Mainland with V.I.A.'s Weatherhood.
