The Worm Moon, March’s full moon, is full at 6:44 a.m. EDT (10:44 UTC) on Monday, March 22, 2027. It is the first full moon of spring and the paschal full moon, so it sets Easter on Sunday, March 28, 2027.
The Worm Moon is the traditional name for the full moon of March. In 2027, it is full on the morning of Monday, March 22, in every US time zone, 1 day and 14 hours after the March equinox.
Because it is the first full moon after the equinox, the 2027 Worm Moon is the paschal full moon that sets the date of Easter. In four of the six years from 2026 to 2031, the March full moon comes before the equinox, so it does not set Easter.
The 2027 Worm Moon also falls on the same day as Holi, Monday, March 22, 2027.
This page covers the exact time in every US time zone, moonrise times for four US cities, the Worm Moon dates from 2026 to 2031, and the origin of the name.
Table of Contents
When is the Worm Moon 2027?
The Worm Moon 2027 is full at 10:44 UTC on Monday, March 22, 2027, according to the U.S. Naval Observatory. Moonblink gives 10:43:40 UTC, which rounds to the same minute.
The table below converts that time to US and international time zones. US clocks switch to daylight saving time on March 14, so the US times are in daylight time.
| Time zone | Worm Moon 2027 (exact full moon) |
|---|---|
| UTC | Monday, March 22, 10:44 a.m. |
| US Eastern | Monday, March 22, 6:44 a.m. EDT |
| US Central | Monday, March 22, 5:44 a.m. CDT |
| US Mountain | Monday, March 22, 4:44 a.m. MDT |
| US Pacific | Monday, March 22, 3:44 a.m. PDT |
| Alaska | Monday, March 22, 2:44 a.m. AKDT |
| Hawaii | Monday, March 22, 12:44 a.m. HST |
| London | Monday, March 22, 10:44 a.m. GMT |
| India | Monday, March 22, 4:14 p.m. IST |
| Sydney | Monday, March 22, 9:44 p.m. AEDT |
The 2027 Worm Moon falls on Monday, March 22, in every time zone shown. The full moon before it is the Snow Moon of Saturday, February 20, and the next is the Pink Moon of Tuesday, April 20.
Worm Moon moonrise times in US cities
The exact moment of full moon comes before dawn across the United States, so the evenings of Sunday, March 21, and Monday, March 22, are the best times to watch it rise.
The table below gives moonrise, moonset, sunset, and the share of the Moon’s disc lit for four US cities, from the Naval Observatory’s rise and set data.
| City | Sunday, March 21: moonrise (lit) | Monday, March 22: moonset | Monday, March 22: sunset | Monday, March 22: moonrise (lit) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York (EDT) | 6:37 p.m. (99%) | 6:44 a.m. | 7:10 p.m. | 7:49 p.m. (100%) |
| Chicago (CDT) | 6:34 p.m. (99%) | 6:39 a.m. | 7:05 p.m. | 7:47 p.m. (100%) |
| Denver (MDT) | 6:47 p.m. (99%) | 6:50 a.m. | 7:14 p.m. | 7:58 p.m. (100%) |
| Los Angeles (PDT) | 6:41 p.m. (99%) | 6:47 a.m. | 7:06 p.m. | 7:48 p.m. (100%) |
In New York, the Worm Moon sets at 6:44 a.m. EDT, the same minute it becomes full, 12 minutes before the 6:56 a.m. sunrise. In Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles, the Moon is still above the horizon at the moment of full.
On the evening of March 22, the Moon rises 39 to 44 minutes after sunset in the four cities, so it climbs into a sky that is already dark.
The Worm Moon, the equinox and Easter
The March equinox of 2027 falls at 4:25 p.m. EDT on Saturday, March 20, according to Datescal’s First Day of Spring 2027: March Equinox Date and Time. The Worm Moon comes 1 day, 14 hours, and 19 minutes later, which makes it the first full moon of spring 2027.
Western churches celebrate Easter on the Sunday after the first full moon on or after March 21. That puts Easter 2027 on Sunday, March 28, six days after the Worm Moon of March 22.
The church calculation uses an equinox fixed at March 21 and a moon worked out from tables rather than observed, but in 2027 the church dates and the astronomical dates agree.
When the March full moon is not the paschal moon
The March full moon is the paschal full moon only when it comes after the equinox. Between 2026 and 2031, that happens only in 2027 and 2029:
| Year | March full moon (Eastern Time) | Before or after the March equinox? | Paschal full moon? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Tuesday, March 3 | Before | No; it falls in April |
| 2027 | Monday, March 22 | After | Yes |
| 2028 | Friday, March 10 | Before | No; it falls in April |
| 2029 | Thursday, March 29 | After | Yes |
| 2030 | Tuesday, March 19 | Before | No; it falls in April |
| 2031 | Saturday, March 8 | Before | No; it falls in April |
The 2030 Worm Moon misses by less than a day: it falls on March 19, and the equinox comes on March 20.
Worm Moon dates for 2026 to 2031
The Worm Moon falls about 11 days earlier each year, then jumps later in years that fit a 13th full moon. The table below lists the March full moon for each year from 2026 to 2031, from the Naval Observatory’s tables for 2026, 2028, 2029, 2030, and 2031.
| Year | Worm Moon (Eastern Time) | Pacific Time | UTC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Tuesday, March 3, 6:38 a.m. EST | Tuesday, March 3, 3:38 a.m. PST | Mar 3, 11:38 |
| 2027 | Monday, March 22, 6:44 a.m. EDT | Monday, March 22, 3:44 a.m. PDT | Mar 22, 10:44 |
| 2028 | Friday, March 10, 8:06 p.m. EST | Friday, March 10, 5:06 p.m. PST | Mar 11, 01:06 |
| 2029 | Thursday, March 29, 10:26 p.m. EDT | Thursday, March 29, 7:26 p.m. PDT | Mar 30, 02:26 |
| 2030 | Tuesday, March 19, 1:56 p.m. EDT | Tuesday, March 19, 10:56 a.m. PDT | Mar 19, 17:56 |
| 2031 | Saturday, March 8, 11:29 p.m. EST | Saturday, March 8, 8:29 p.m. PST | Mar 9, 04:29 |
Three of these Worm Moons fall a day earlier in the United States than in UTC: March 10, 2028, March 29, 2029, and March 8, 2031. In those years, European calendars show the full moon one day later than US calendars do.
What is the Worm Moon?
The Worm Moon is a traditional name for the full moon of March. Like every full moon, it is the moment the Moon stands opposite the Sun, 180 degrees away along the ecliptic, so the whole side facing Earth is lit. The name does not reflect any astronomical difference from other full moons.
Where the Worm Moon name comes from
According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, the name has traditionally been explained by earthworms appearing as the soil warms in spring. The almanac adds that Captain Jonathan Carver recorded in the 1760s that the name referred instead to beetle larvae, another kind of “worm,” coming out of thawing tree bark.
The Maine Farmers’ Almanac began publishing moon names like this in the 1930s. According to Wikipedia, the 1937 edition credited them to “our early English ancestors,” so where the full set of names came from is disputed.
Other names for the March full moon
The Old Farmer’s Almanac lists these other names for the March full moon, with the peoples it attributes them to:
| Name | Attributed to |
|---|---|
| Wind Strong Moon | Pueblo |
| Sore Eyes Moon | Dakota, Lakota, Assiniboine |
| Goose Moon | Algonquin, Cree |
| Crow Comes Back Moon | Northern Ojibwe |
| Sugar Moon | Ojibwe |
| Eagle Moon | Not attributed |
The 2027 Worm Moon’s distance and zodiac sign
According to Moonblink, the 2027 Worm Moon is 372,525 km from Earth at full. That makes it the fourth-closest full moon of the year, after the January, February, and December full moons, and it is not a supermoon.
At the Worm Moon, the Sun has just entered Aries at the equinox, so the Moon stands opposite it in Libra.
In astrology, this is called the full moon in Libra.
Holi and the 2027 Worm Moon
Holi, the Hindu spring festival of colours, is tied to the full moon of the month of Phalguna. In 2027, Holika Dahan, the bonfire night, falls on Sunday, March 21.
Rangwali Holi, the day of coloured powders, falls on Monday, March 22. Both dates come from Dekho Panchang and Vrindavan Mathura Tourism. The main day of Holi 2027 falls on the same day as the Worm Moon.
How to see the Worm Moon
You can see the Worm Moon with the naked eye wherever the sky is clear. For the best view in the United States:
- Check your local moonrise time for Monday, March 22, 2027. In the four cities above, it falls between 7:47 and 7:58 p.m. local daylight time.
- Find a spot with a clear view of the eastern horizon.
- Watch during the first hour after moonrise, while the Moon is still low.
- For an earlier view, look on Sunday, March 21. The 99%-lit Moon rises between 6:34 and 6:47 p.m. local time, before sunset.
What the Worm Moon is not
Several terms are linked to the March full moon. The table below sets out the differences.
| Term | What it means | Relation to the 2027 Worm Moon |
|---|---|---|
| Worm Moon | Traditional name for March’s full moon | Monday, March 22, 2027 |
| Paschal full moon | The first full moon on or after March 21 in the church calendar | Yes in 2027; it sets Easter on March 28 |
| Pink Moon | Traditional name for April’s full moon | The next full moon, April 20, 2027 |
| Supermoon | A full moon near the Moon’s closest approach to Earth | No; 2027’s only supermoon is January 22 |
| Equinox | The moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator | March 20, 2027, about 38 hours before the Worm Moon |
Frequently asked questions
When is the Worm Moon in 2027?
The Worm Moon in 2027 is on Monday, March 22, at 6:44 a.m. EDT (10:44 UTC), according to the U.S. Naval Observatory. In Pacific Time, it falls at 3:44 a.m. PDT. The best evenings to see it are Sunday, March 21, when it is 99% lit, and Monday, March 22, when it rises full shortly after sunset.
Why is it called the Worm Moon?
The Old Farmer’s Almanac says the Worm Moon name has traditionally been linked to earthworms appearing as the soil warms in March. It also notes that Captain Jonathan Carver recorded in the 1760s that the name referred to beetle larvae emerging from tree bark. Other March names include the Sugar Moon and the Crow Comes Back Moon.
Does the Worm Moon decide the date of Easter in 2027?
Yes. The Worm Moon of March 22, 2027, is the first full moon after the March equinox, so it is the paschal full moon. Western churches celebrate Easter on the following Sunday, March 28, 2027. In 2026, 2028, 2030, and 2031, the March full moon comes before the equinox, and the paschal full moon falls in April instead.
Is the Worm Moon the first full moon of spring 2027?
Yes. Spring 2027 begins at the March equinox, 4:25 p.m. EDT on Saturday, March 20, and the Worm Moon follows at 6:44 a.m. EDT on Monday, March 22, about 38 hours later. Spring 2027 has four full moons, so the third, the May 20 Flower Moon, is a seasonal Blue Moon.
When is the Worm Moon in 2028?
The 2028 Worm Moon is on Friday, March 10, 2028, at 8:06 p.m. EST, which is 01:06 UTC on Saturday, March 11, according to the U.S. Naval Observatory. It falls on March 10 in the United States but March 11 in Europe. Because it comes before the March equinox, it is not the paschal full moon in 2028.
What sign is the Worm Moon in 2027?
The 2027 Worm Moon is in Libra. At full moon, the Moon sits opposite the Sun, and on March 22, 2027, the Sun is in Aries, which it entered at the equinox on March 20. In astrology, this is called the full moon in Libra. The next full moon, the Pink Moon of April 20, is in Scorpio.
