Snow moon visible in UK tonight - best time to look into night sky

05 February 2023 , 21:06

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The Snow Moon will be visible tonight (Image: Getty Images)

Stargazers will be able to catch a glimpse of a Snow Moon over the UK sky tonight.

The phenomenon takes place every February and is the second full moon of the year.

If you're not able to spot it tonight then you can still be in with another chance as the moon is expected to appear full for the next two days and will be visible from the UK each evening until Tuesday.

It's not the only object to look out for in the night sky at the moment, a bright star named Regulus will make an appearance near the moon and Venus will also be visible until it sets at 12.24pm

The moon should be visible in clear skies (AFP via Getty Images)

According to NASA, the Maine Farmers' Almanac began publishing Native American names for full Moons in the 1930s and they've since become widely used.

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Explaining where the name for February's full moon derives from, the space agency explained: "The tribes of what is now the northeastern United States called this the Snow Moon or the Storm Moon because of the heavy snows that fall in this season."

It added: "Bad weather and heavy snowstorms made hunting difficult, so this Moon was also called the Hunger Moon."

The Snow Moon will appear full for another two days (Getty Images)

Meanwhile, in Europe the Snow Moon is also known as the Wolf Moon or the Candles Moon.

To be in with the best chance of catching a glimpse of the stunning Snow Moon, there are a few tips you can follow.

Firstly, you should try to get to higher ground as this gives you a better chance of seeing clear skies and a clear path to the horizon.

Getting to higher ground will give you a better view of the Snow Moon (AFP via Getty Images)

The moon rises in the east and sets in the west so you should also make sure to be looking in the right direction.

If you're viewing the moon from your home then you should turn down the lights to get the best view as artificial light can dull the night sky.

A free app called Star Chart can also help you to spot the Snow Moon as well as the celestial objects around it.

It allows you to point your camera at the night sky and will tell you what you're looking at.

For those who still aren't able to see the Snow Moon, you can watch a free online livestream by the Virtual Telescope Project which is available on their website or YouTube channel.

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