🌙 Moon Phases March 2026: See all lunar phases for March 2026 including new moon, first quarter, full moon, and last quarter dates. Updated with accurate astronomical data.
About March 2026 moon phases
On March 3, 2026, March's full moon — the Worm Moon — appears as the soil thaws and earthworms emerge in the eastern US. The name comes from Algonquian and colonial-American sources. In Christian tradition, it's the Paschal Moon used to compute the Easter date: Easter Sunday falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the spring equinox.
Benefits
- ·Critical date for Easter calculation (Paschal Moon)
- ·Marks the spring-equinox period
- ·Triggers seasonal planting calendars in temperate zones
- ·Pairs with springtime daylight-saving transition
- ·Shows the full vernal-equinox alignment
How it works
the March 2026 full moon peaks on March 3, 2026. Throughout 2026, the moon completes 12-13 full cycles, each lasting 29.53 days. Distance from Earth varies between 356,500 km (perigee) and 406,700 km (apogee), creating supermoon and micromoon size differences of about 14%. Full-moon timing data on this page comes from the US Naval Observatory and NASA Goddard.
The Paschal Moon connection is why Easter dates wander between March 22 and April 25. The astronomical formula was set at the Council of Nicaea (325 CE) and codified in the Gregorian reform of 1582. Eastern Orthodox churches use a different formula based on the Julian calendar, putting their Easter dates 1-5 weeks later.
Who uses March 2026 moon phases
Photographers planning moonrise shots 2026, March-specific cultural and religious observers, astrology readers tracking March transits, fishermen and surfers reading tide cycles, and anyone curious about which full moon comes next.
Moon Phases March 2026
Moon phases for March 2026. Full Moon on March 3. New Moon on March 18. See daily moon illumination, lunar calendar, and all phases.
Related
Frequently asked questions
When is the full moon in March 2026?
The full moon in March 2026 falls on March 3, 2026. The exact peak time is shown in the major phases table above. This full moon is traditionally called the Worm Moon in the Old Farmer's Almanac, a name traceable to Algonquian and other Indigenous American sources.
Why is March's full moon called the Worm Moon?
March's full moon is called the Worm Moon in Old Farmer's Almanac tradition, drawn from Indigenous American naming conventions tied to seasonal cycles. Different cultures use different names — Celtic, Chinese, and Hindu calendars assign their own meanings.
When is the new moon in March 2026?
The new moon in March 2026 falls on March 18. New moons are not visible because the moon's lit side faces away from Earth. They are the best night-sky observing nights — without moonlight, fainter stars and meteors become visible.
Why do moon phases shift by date each month?
A complete lunar cycle (synodic month) is 29.53 days, slightly shorter than most calendar months. So each month's full moon falls about 0.5-2 days earlier in the calendar than the previous month's. Occasionally a calendar month contains two full moons — the second is called a "blue moon" (about once every 2.7 years).