ST. LOUIS (KMOX) — The first day of spring, March 20, will mark a particularly rare cosmic event, as a supermoon will also shine on this night.
Only happening an average of three times every 100 years, this month's full moon lands on the spring equinox and happens to be the last of three supermoons for 2019 as well.
Supermoons look especially big and bright as they rise and set in the sky due to their close proximity to Earth. The moon will reach its peak at 8:43 p.m. in St. Louis, according to the Farmer's Almanac.
March's full moon is also known as the Worm Moon, among other names, which comes from traditions passed on by Native Americans and others who lived according to the seasons. As temperatures warm this time of year, the ground becomes softer and earthworms begin to appear — a sign of spring and the beginning of the planting season.
The last time a full moon occurred at the same time as the spring equinox was 38 years ago in 1981.
Along with this astronomical oddity, an asteroid is expected to fly past Earth in the next few days, according to CNN. The space rock known as 2019 EA2 will zoom by at 190,246 miles away — a distance even closer than the moon. Based on your location, the asteroid is expected to pass Earth March 21 or 22 without imposing risk of danger.
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