Want to see a ‘minimoon’ rise over Kansas? Here’s why it will look smaller than usual
A full “snow” moon will be visible in Kansas in late February, but it won’t look quite as big as most full moons.
The celestial event is unofficially referred to as a “minimoon,” according to astronomy publication Space.com, because it will occur one day before the moon reaches the farthest point from Earth in its orbit. Because it will be farther away from Earth, it won’t look as big to stargazers.
The snow moon gets its name from the relatively frequent snowfall that typically happens in February, the Farmers’ Almanac reports. Other names for the moon include the deep snow moon, ice moon, midwinter moon and more.
Full moons have multiple names, and many come from Indigenous cultures. The Farmers’ Almanac uses Indigenous moon names, along with monikers from colonial America and other North American sources.
Here’s when to look for this month’s full moon in the Wichita area.
When can you see the snow moon in Wichita?
The snow moon will become full at 6:31 a.m. Central Standard Time Feb. 24, according to NASA, and will appear full from the evening of Thursday, Feb. 22 to Sunday, Feb. 25.
The sun will set at 6:17 p.m. in Wichita Feb. 24 and rise at 7:06 a.m. the next morning, according to online global clock Time and Date.
Feb. 22, the first day the moon will appear full, should be sunny and warmer during the day, the National Weather Service Wichita office forecast as of Feb. 16. The high temperature should be around 60 degrees Fahrenheit that day.
The Kansas Astronomical Observers will hold a meeting at 3 p.m. March 16 at Lake Afton Public Observatory, and visitors are welcome.
More full moons in 2024
If you miss the snow moon, you will have 10 more chances to catch a full moon this year, including a few full supermoons.
Here’s this year’s full moon calendar, with information from Space.com:
March 25: Worm moon
April 23: Pink moon
May 23: Flower moon
June 21: Strawberry moon
July 21: Buck moon
Aug. 19: Sturgeon moon (supermoon and blue moon)
Sept. 17: Harvest moon (supermoon and partial lunar eclipse)
Oct. 17: Hunter’s moon (supermoon)
Nov. 15: Beaver moon (supermoon)
Dec. 15: Cold moon
This April, Kansas residents will have the chance to see a solar eclipse, though none of the state is in the path of totality. Residents of Overland Park will see the most obstruction April 8, at just under 90%.
